[aguahombre]

Jlall, on May 4 2010, 11:00 AM, said:

Another plus, they might bid 2S and partner might be able to crack it in which case you're happy to sit since they're in a big misfit (partner is probably 4423).

Lefty chose his best singleton? Or, the Mike bidder was 4-5 and Lefty chose the higher doubleton? Or, Miker was 4-6?

What am I missing? Of course, whatever the answer I could sit for 2SX. But I think partner will only have 3 trumps. The Problem, then is if Partner would also double 2H with only 3 of them.

[mikeh]

hanp, on May 4 2010, 12:23 PM, said:

Completely agree with mikeh, I also double.

Han....maybe you could set up the first part of this answer as a macro....then life would be so much less stressful for both of us

[pooltuna]

mikeh, on May 4 2010, 01:30 PM, said:

hanp, on May 4 2010, 12:23 PM, said:

Completely agree with mikeh, I also double.

Han....maybe you could set up the first part of this answer as a macro....then life would be so much less stressful for both of us

I don't know about that That puts a lot of stress on you cause you are no longer allowed to display your humanity and be wrong

[mikeh]

pooltuna, on May 4 2010, 01:41 PM, said:

mikeh, on May 4 2010, 01:30 PM, said:

hanp, on May 4 2010, 12:23 PM, said:

Completely agree with mikeh, I also double.

Han....maybe you could set up the first part of this answer as a macro....then life would be so much less stressful for both of us

I don't know about that That puts a lot of stress on you cause you are no longer allowed to display your humanity and be wrong

What? me wrong?? The only attribute I have greater than my modesty is my infallibility! Well. maybea my spealling.

[Jlall]

edit: OOPS THOUGHT WE WERE 2-3-4-4.

Ok change my comment about partner possibly Xing 2S into partner possibly Xing 2H. My point is just that partner can be 3-4 in the majors and be able to X hearts and they might not run to spades. He could even be 4-4 in the majors. There's no reason to think either they have a fit or that we have a fit, at least initially.

But that is unlikely, I just think Xing is the best start to describing our hand, especially if we get to raise clubs next. It's just a bonus that some small % of the time we get to double them in 2H.

[mikeh]

Justin, my approach has always been to encourage partner, with a suitable hand, to double with 3 good cards, as optional.

I guess it comes down to whether we want to maximize defending a doubled contract when we have a 4-2 defensive trump holding, and be unable to double when our trumps are 3-3, or vice versa.

I confess I am out of touch with current expert practice in this area, and would like to hear/read more from you on this point.

It strikes me that requiring opener to hold 4 trump to double at the 2-level makes it unlikely that he can double, while allowing on 3 makes it tougher for responder, who can only pass with 3+ himself and probably should pull with 2.

Is this a style issue, where either approach works equally well, or is there a theoretical (and practical) edge to one approach?

[Jlall]

mikeh, on May 4 2010, 02:10 PM, said:

Is this a style issue, where either approach works equally well, or is there a theoretical (and practical) edge to one approach?

I don't know but the way you presented it as being able to double when trumps are 3-3 or 4-2 is not a one for your side... obviously if you could choose one or the other you'd rather double them with 4-2 trumps since their trumps are not breaking/they will go down more often and more tricks on average.

I'm sure my way is old fashioned though. Honestly I am not that concerned about doubling them at the 2 level that often and I like to just X when I have a balanced hand with values and then go from there. If I do double them at the 2 level I like to have 4 decent trumps so that they might go down a lot.