[lmilne]

A common standard agreement is that doubling and rebidding a suit shows a( hand too good to overcall, e.g. (1♥)-Dbl-(2♥)-P-(P)-2♠ is stronger than whatever the strongest hand you can overcall 1♠ with is.

What about at a higher level? Does this still apply, in your partnership, or does this show a different sort of hand-type?

Some example auctions:
1. (3♦)-P-(P)-Dbl; (P)-3♥-(P)-....3♠/4♣

2. (4♥)-Dbl-(P)-4♠-(P)-...5♣/5♦

[Cyberyeti]

At the higher level you have other options in that 3♦-P-P-4♠ is a good hand where it isn't in the 1♥ auction.

Do you play (non) leaping Michaels and how good do you have to be to use it ?

1. 3♠ for me would be blacks not good enough for an immediate NLM 4♣ and 4♣ would be clubs if playing NLM. If not playing NLM 3♠ would still be blacks but 4♣ would be a better hand than an immediate 4♣ but how it compares to an immediate 5♣ I'm not sure.

2. I think with 4N/5♣/5♦ available these may well be cues.

[FrancesHinden]

General principle is that other than 1-level doubles, at all higher levels real single-suited hands have to bid their suit at once, at whatever levels feels appropriate.

1. This is a flexible hand. It shows extras, but not FG extras and not a single-suited. Something like AQJxx Kxx x AQxx would be plenty. The second auction shows something like a 4216 with extra values - partner is allowed to convert to 4 of either major. We've had some discussions about whether you should bid spades first with 4 of them but decided that's a bit confusing.

2. Sounds like a strong hand, but would have been prepared to listen to alternative contracts. Maybe 3163? 3046?

[gnasher]

What Frances said.