[Phil]

Of the three auctions I posted, this one was the only one we agreed on. We both thought it should be takeout.

On the 1st where partner doubles a raised overcall, I was 100% sure it was penalty. He thought takeout.

On the 2nd where partner doubles a dead NT, I was also 100% sure this was penalty. He thought takeout.

[rduran1216]

partner doesn't believe in penalty doubles thats all haha.

[jdeegan]

One ♠, pass, 1NT, double, pass, 2♦. Hmmmm... usually the HCP will be about equally split with the advantage (if any) most often to the side that opened the bidding. If there is any spade fit we will hear it now, and we didn't. LHO made a dangerous bid, so he must like his hand, probably 4♥, and maybe even 1-4-4-4 distribution. Even so, I want the long knives on this auction. If pard pulls, well that's OK too.

[han]

Exactly, this is probably our hand, they stepped in and when they are wrong, make them pay.

No wonder people started overcalling on junk when so many partnerships gave up on the penalty double.

[JLOGIC]

I feel really strongly that the 2nd one should be penalty. Partners hand is already defined as very likely 5332, and we are known to have shortness in partners 5 card suit. On top of that, they have not really bid and raised a suit, and depending on how modern they are, might even be in a 4-2 fit, and could extremely easily be in a 7 card fit. Just seems like an awesome spot to play penalty doubles.

[JLOGIC]

han, on 2011-September-16, 05:41, said:

So they cannot hold Jx KQxx xx Axxxx?

And lastly, if this is the best example of a takeout double, color me completely unconvinced. Just bidding 2S with this hand seems perfectly fine to me. I feel like most 2425 example hands that want to bid can bid 2S. With 5 hearts, you can just bid 2H. Maybe you gain slightly by being able to make a takeout double with a hand like this, but you are losing one of the best possible penalty Xs.

[rduran1216]

JLOGIC, on 2011-September-21, 07:46, said:

And lastly, if this is the best example of a takeout double, color me completely unconvinced. Just bidding 2S with this hand seems perfectly fine to me. I feel like most 2425 example hands that want to bid can bid 2S. With 5 hearts, you can just bid 2H. Maybe you gain slightly by being able to make a takeout double with a hand like this, but you are losing one of the best possible penalty Xs.

agreed.