[daveharty]

1.

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What is this double? Is it unequivocally takeout of diamonds? I only include the East hand in case it affects your opinion of what's going on at the table.

2.

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Partner's double is maximal, his only available game try. What's your call? How much would knowledge of LHO's tendencies affect your decision?

EDIT: Both hands scored at matchpoints.

[jmcw]

1. This is T/O. likely a strong 4414
AKxx AKxx (x) AJTx(x)

2. 3♠.
Partner has invited game. I'm downgrading my ♥ values and trump support is minimal, I see no reason to accept against any opponents.
IMO it's better to play your cards than to play people.

[daveharty]

On 1., what kind of hand would you expect partner to have if he had doubled 2S, the transfer bid?

On 2., I don't expect anyone will bid game of course, I'm just wondering if anyone would consider converting the double at matchpoints, and whether that decision might be contingent on knowing that LHO was a "sound" bidder or not.

[mich-b]

daveharty, on 2011-November-02, 09:51, said:

On 1., what kind of hand would you expect partner to have if he had doubled 2S, the transfer bid?

On 2., I don't expect anyone will bid game of course, I'm just wondering if anyone would consider converting the double at matchpoints, and whether that decision might be contingent on knowing that LHO was a "sound" bidder or not.

On 1, I would expect a double of 2♠ to show a hand with ♣ and ♠ , 5-4 or perhaps 6-4 , while the double of 3♦ implies general takeout shape 3415, 4405, 4414 or perhaps even 4423 (with 18?)

On 2 , Yes, I would consider converting the double.

[ArtK78]

1) Takeout double.
2) Pass for penalties. I suppose this could be wrong, but I will take my chances holding KJ9x of hearts. I expect to win at least 2 trump tricks and my ♦K along with partner's game try should produce at least 3 more tricks.

[Zelandakh]

This seems to link nicely with the discussion in the other thread regarding defences to 1NT - 2S and 1NT - 2NT showing minor suit transfers. To decide what the second round double should mean it is first necessary to know which first round defence has been agreed (there are at least 4 or 5 in the other thread). Without discussion, take-out.

[aguahombre]

jmcw, on 2011-November-02, 09:31, said:

1. This is T/O. likely a strong 4414
AKxx AKxx (x) AJTx(x)

If this is the case, partner of the 1NT overcaller has a Zero count, and the overcaller has everything behind your partner. You didn't say what you would do, but I will assume pass. ...Your trump queen will score and I seriously doubt you can make 4H.

[wyman]

jmcw, on 2011-November-02, 09:31, said:

1. This is T/O. likely a strong 4414
AKxx AKxx (x) AJTx(x)

2. 3♠.
Partner has invited game. I'm downgrading my ♥ values and trump support is minimal, I see no reason to accept against any opponents.
IMO it's better to play your cards than to play people.

Agreed with you until the last line (though I dont think the X'er in (1) has to be as strong as you suggest). I'm here to make the best MP decision I can, and if I know that LHO tends to step out with marginal hands, I'll happily try to collect 300+ instead of 140. If, in the long run, I think sitting will pay more MPs, I'll happily sit. My partner likes to win MPs too, so -- even if he disagrees with my assessment of LHO -- he will understand why I made my decision.

[JLOGIC]

I would pass for sure on hand 2.

[han]

Agree that the second one is an obvious pass. The first one is a little unusual, it would be nice to know partner. Our hand certainly suggests that partner intended the double as takeout. For one thing, we have 3 small spades, and the opponents didn't bid spades. For another, we have good diamonds and the opponents have bid diamonds.

At the transnationals, we have the following auction:

1C - p - p - Dbl
Rdbl - 1H - Dbl

I thought this was an obvious takeout double, and my partner thought it was an obvious penalty double. We both explained it as such to our screen mates. This is all fine, if it wasn't for the fact that my partner had AKQJ of hearts, a little clue that I did not intend it as a penalty double.

[jmcw]

ArtK78, on 2011-November-02, 10:03, said:

1) Takeout double.
2) Pass for penalties. I suppose this could be wrong, but I will take my chances holding KJ9x of hearts. I expect to win at least 2 trump tricks and my ♦K along with partner's game try should produce at least 3 more tricks.

wyman, on 2011-November-02, 10:09, said:

Agreed with you until the last line (though I dont think the X'er in (1) has to be as strong as you suggest). I'm here to make the best MP decision I can, and if I know that LHO tends to step out with marginal hands, I'll happily try to collect 300+ instead of 140. If, in the long run, I think sitting will pay more MPs, I'll happily sit. My partner likes to win MPs too, so -- even if he disagrees with my assessment of LHO -- he will understand why I made my decision.

JLOGIC, on 2011-November-02, 11:53, said:

I would pass for sure on hand 2.

I considered converting but thought it was a bit speculative. With all this high power talent passing, I guess it must be right

[neilkaz]

Hand 1 looks like a take out to me and I respond 3♥ as I am not proud of my hand.

Hand 2, I'll convert at MPs even at these colors. +100 won't outscore +140 but +300 certainly will and perhaps 3♠ isn't making.

[daveharty]

On 2., I thought it was pretty clear to pass, even though my spidey-sense should have been tingling to the tune of "this lady ALWAYS has her bid." Unfortunately, we were screwed from the moment partner decided to double, since the hand was:

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If you'd told me before dummy came down that I was going to take THREE trump tricks, I would have been licking my chops, but that's what happened: declarer ruffed the spade lead, cashed the heart ace, and played on clubs, conceding three trumps and a diamond.

On 1., I'm not sure what I was thinking...I passed and fully earned our -670. Partner had AJ87/AQ83/3/AQJ6.

[ArtK78]

daveharty, on 2011-November-03, 13:34, said:

On 2., I thought it was pretty clear to pass, even though my spidey-sense should have been tingling to the tune of "this lady ALWAYS has her bid."

You are not kidding. I suspect that many players would bid more than 3♥ on the South hand.

Perhaps she was thinking that she could bid clubs over the next spade bid that never came.

[whereagles]

1. I think it's take out. Probably without 4 spades because pard didn't dbl the artificial 2S. I'd say 2416 with extras and wimpish clubs.

2. The hand screams 'defend'. Pass.

[ahydra]

1) is for takeout as others have said
2) I'd pass - that heart holding is like 1000x more valuable defending than declaring. 3S may or not make, 3H should probably be down at least one (unlucky on the actual hand )

ahydra