[cnszsun]

Scoring: IMP

1♠-(2♥)-?

---

Will you double or bid 2♠?
If you choose double, is it because your shape or you are too good for simple raise?

[skjaeran]

I just watched that hand on vugraph from China.

I'd double, planning to pull 3m to 3♠. Due to my good suits (A and K and good interiors) and distribution, I don't think a mere 2♠ is adequate.

I also agree with the actual action taken at the table after the double.

[Fluffy]

this is worth 3♥, otherwise bid just 2♠, double often works poorly, for example when partner bids 5m over 4♥

[Codo]

Never 2 Spade, the hand is too strong.
If my inviting bid (2 NT or 3 Heart) demands 4 trumps, I must double now and bid spades later. With the small risk Fluffy pointed out.
If I am allowed to invite with three trumps, I would choose that bid.

[han]

I also think that the hand is too good for 2S. I'd bid 3H which I play as a 3-card limit raise or better.

[cnszsun]

This is a hand from vugraph. I don't like double becuse it usually denied fit. You will have to guess under some circumstances, for example LHO jumps to 4♥ and partner pass.
I prefer 3♥ to double if this hand is too strong for 2♠.

[kenrexford]

This hand is much stronger than a simple 2♠ raise.

The hand is an eight-loser hand, invitational. However, the stiff in hearts seems to be particularly nice. More importantly, perhaps, is that my tremendous body in the minors is positioned well, making the "eight losers" a probable under-evaluation.

Therefore, I am torn between:

(a.) whichever of 2NT and 3♥ covers hands with 3-card support and limit values, hopefully limit+ with three-card support rather than 3-4 card limit, or

(b.) 4♥, splinter.

If I have a call (2NT or 3♥) that shows 3-card limit+, I'll elect that.

[P_Marlowe]

show the support, whatever you prefer
2S, 2NT, 3H or 3S, I dont care, as long
as you show the support.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[lowerline]

cnszsun, on Jul 3 2007, 05:50 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

1♠-(2♥)-?

---

Will you double or bid 2♠?
If you choose double, is it because your shape or you are too good for simple raise?

Show an invitational hand with support (3♥ in my book).

[neilkaz]

This hand is too good for 2♠. Look at that fine 5 card ♦ suit and all those 10's and 9's. Honestly, if the overcall had been 4♥ I'd bid 4♠ and expect to have good chances to make.

Here, I show my limit raise or better by 3♥ and don't care that I have only 3 card trump support.

Doubling may lead to PD getting into 5m, but for those who demand (certainly reasonable) that 3♥ requires 4 pieces, that is their option and most often PD won't be in 5m before you get a chance to call 4♠ (assuming opps carry into 4♥)

.. neilkaz ..

[inquiry]

I would make a 4♦ fit jump. This hand is game force for me at imps and these colors. After 4♦ future decisions are on partner, not me.

[pbleighton]

3H for me.

Peter

[goobers]

Yes, support (skip the minor showing)

[mikeh]

I almost never double with a fit, but this hand is an exception.

It is way too good for a simple, competitive raise. I dislike showing it as a straight-forward limit raise. I am also concerned that the favourable opps will jam it into 4♥ and partner will not know enough about our hand to make a meaningful decision if I make a limit raise....

I recognize that the auction after double then 4♥ by the opps might get us to 5minor rather than 4♠, but that doesn't have to be a disaster...it is imps, after all. And if it goes 4♥ p p, I'll try 4♠.

In the meantime, if we have a slam, it is more likely to be in a minor than in ♠s and I don't think a raise would allow us much chance of finding the minor suit fit.

If the opps don't interfere further, I intend to bid 3♠ if I get a chance.

It is possible that I may be looking to find the best lead against 2♥ x'd... but partner will need an odd hand for that to happen, and my ♠ lead will hopefully help a tap develop.

[whereagles]

Dbl + 3♠ is nice... if LHO doesn't shoot 4♥. I'm willing to take that chance.

[hrothgar]

inquiry, on Jul 3 2007, 08:29 PM, said:

I would make a 4♦ fit jump. This hand is game force for me at imps and these colors. After 4♦ future decisions are on partner, not me.

This is fine and dandy if your partnership has an explicit agreement agree that a fit jump can be made with xxx in trump.

However, I suspect that the vast majority of players would expect that partner had at least four trump for a jump like this. Hell, I'd wager that a significant minority have agreements that these types of jumps require Hxxx.

[EricK]

inquiry, on Jul 3 2007, 05:29 PM, said:

I would make a 4♦ fit jump. This hand is game force for me at imps and these colors. After 4♦ future decisions are on partner, not me.

I don't like a fit jump on this hand. It seems to be just begging partner to make the wrong high-level decision because it has too many flaws:- there aren't enough trumps, the ♦ suit is not perfect for a fit jump (suits headed by an Ace are good opposite length and shortness) and you have a very defensive holding in ♣.

[kenrexford]

inquiry, on Jul 3 2007, 12:29 PM, said:

I would make a 4♦ fit jump. This  hand is game force for me at imps and these colors. After 4♦ future decisions are on partner, not me.

But why a fit-jump instead of a splinter? Doesn't that imply a COV in trumps and diamonds, when you have a COV in the minors?

[edit] Just noticed that everyone else properly pounced. LOL

[awm]

Hmm. I don't really think this hand is worth a game bid. Three small trumps is a real negative feature (you're not scoring as many ruffs as you might think).

I'd go with 3♥ at the table, and would rather bid 2♠ than make some sort of splinter or fit jump that usually shows good four-card support and gets us to game. Double is okay, but I'm concerned about the 4♥ bid by LHO, both because partner might bid 5m when 4♠ is better and because I might have to guess whether to bid 4♠ after 4♥ is passed to me.

[mike777]

cnszsun, on Jul 3 2007, 05:50 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

1♠-(2♥)-?

---

Will you double or bid 2♠?
If you choose double, is it because your shape or you are too good for simple raise?

easy 2spades if you expect partner to open on junk.
easy 3H if you expect partner to open sound.