[djarv47]

Both pairs playing 2 over 1
All players advanced
No special systems or conventions

Matchpoints
All vulnerable; bidding goes:


Pass....1S.....pass...2D
double



What does double mean?

If E/W plays Michaels, would that change your interpretation of the double?

Thanks.


PS
advice on formatting bidding sequences appreciated.

[johnu]

djarv47, on 2014-February-10, 22:22, said:

All players advanced

Just curious, what do you think double means?

[djarv47]

johnu, on 2014-February-10, 22:44, said:

Just curious, what do you think double means?

I only know what it is not: it's not negative and it's not balancing.

[johnu]

djarv47, on 2014-February-10, 22:47, said:

I only know what it is not: it's not negative and it's not balancing.

2 more questions. Who is east/west, and what would double by an unpassed hand be?

[djarv47]

johnu, on 2014-February-11, 00:05, said:

2 more questions. Who is east/west, and what would double by an unpassed hand be?

Belladonna and Garozza; just a quiet game in my foyer.

Do you always answer a question with a question?

[kenberg]

I would expect the doubler to be at least 5-5 in hearts and clubs and with all of his values, and I expect him to have some, in those suits. In this way his partner can presumably survive by bidding 2♥ if he doesn't fit well, and bid more if he does. Doubler is suggesting that, if partner holds the right stuff, competition to the five level might work well.

So I think anyway.


As for formatting, I gather that the dealer is the doubler, after he first passed. If that's what you intend, it works for me.
Alternatively:
Pass -1♠-Pass-2♦
X

But nothing wrong with yours. It's the same, really.

[mfa1010]

It is a takeout double.

[Zelandakh]

The default in your scenario is that it simply shows a bunch of hearts and clubs. You can call that a takeout double if you like but it does not have to have traditional takeout double values. However this is a particularly dangerous auction to come in vulnerable so some shape is expected.

An alternative that can be played here is for double to show 6♥-4♣ with 2♠ showing 6♣-4♥ and 2NT being 5♥-5♣. But you would not try springing that on a partner undiscussed and it is by no means clear that it is any kind of improvement anyway.

[johnu]

djarv47, on 2014-February-11, 07:55, said:

Belladonna and Garozza; just a quiet game in my foyer.

Do you always answer a question with a question?

What I wanted to know was whether the dealer side or the opening 1♠ side was east/west since you gave no directional information in your original post.

What confused me is you said the players were advanced, and yet you said you had no idea what the double showed. One more question. What level of play would you describe as advanced?

[johnu]

Zelandakh, on 2014-February-11, 08:25, said:

The default in your scenario is that it simply shows a bunch of hearts and clubs. You can call that a takeout double if you like but it does not have to have traditional takeout double values. However this is a particularly dangerous auction to come in vulnerable so some shape is expected.

I call that a takeout double, asking partner to takeout to one of the unbid suits. Well, this obviously shows less than an opening bid HCP as would any action by a passed hand, but playing strength should be very good since opponents are in a game forcing auction. And not just a lot of shape, but I would expect some very decent looking suits since partner won't have much and this could go for a telephone number if the opponents have a penalty double.

[djarv47]

johnu, on 2014-February-11, 14:57, said:

What I wanted to know was whether the dealer side or the opening 1♠ side was east/west since you gave no directional information in your original post.

What confused me is you said the players were advanced, and yet you said you had no idea what the double showed. One more question. What level of play would you describe as advanced?

Better than me.

[jgillispie]

100% takeout. Many passed hands have no reason to want to penalize 2D in this auction. Best serves as 4-4+ in the other suits (w/ good 5-5, lots of other options exist)