[bd71]

Scoring: IMP

(1♦) X (1♥) ?

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At the table tonight, I doubled...not really thinking penalty so much as showing values with no real direction to go (so clearly suggesting a heart holding but absence of diamond stopper since I didn't bid NT). Others at the table universally thought this "negative double" showed 4 spades. We did poorly in our 3-3 spade fit when we had a 9-card heart fit (pd was 3433 w/ something close to KQx AJTx xxx Axx).

Post-match I checked BWS and if reading it right I believe it says this X is penalty (not that we had agreed BWS but wanted to consult some source).

So the questions:

1. With Standard American as base and no discussion of anything close to this, what is the right bid here?
2. What is best use of X?
3. With this start to the auction is there any way to find our heart fit after RHO bids them?
4. If pd had passed (as I would have), is there any way to find heart fit?

[JLOGIC]

Yes, double is penalty. I would probably bid 2H which is natural and shows 5 (since you would double with 4). Yes you can find hearts even if RHO bids them.

[Furlan]

Just some quick opinions:

1. X, penalty
2. Penalty
3. Yes, once you X partner should know you have a fit. If they run to, say, 2♦, he should bid 2♥.
4. A bit harder now... I think your pard's X is quite normal, it's a decent 14 with no wasted values in opener's suit and support for all other suits.

[hanp]

The "standard" meaning for the double is penalty, with usually 4 hearts, and 2H shows 5.

[Phil]

2♥.

[MFA]

This hand is perfect for 2♥ over 1♥. X then 2♥ shows five hearts too but a stronger hand.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

#1 penalty, more precise X shwoes hearts and values
#2 ..., the alternative would be responsive, showing 4-4 in the black suits,
if this is better than penalty, no idea, if you play in an enviroment, where
psych bids are rare, this treatment may be better, on the other hand with
4-4 in the blacks, you can bid 1S
#3 You showed hearts
#4 ?

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Phil]

MFA, on Sep 11 2010, 07:05 AM, said:

This hand is perfect for 2♥ over 1♥. X then 2♥ shows five hearts too but a stronger hand.

What does 3♥ show?

[pirate22]

for my money the person with 14 points over the 1 ht bid,should smell a rat,despite p original x i would x the 1 ht,then the truth will out,to bid 1 spade with 14 points,shows no iniative......DOUBLE EVERY TIME

[MFA]

Phil, on Sep 11 2010, 05:54 PM, said:

MFA, on Sep 11 2010, 07:05 AM, said:

This hand is perfect for 2♥ over 1♥. X then 2♥ shows five hearts too but a stronger hand.

What does 3♥ show?

It should be six hearts almost always, since there is no need to bid so high with only five. When we have five, then RHO usually just has his bid with some random four-carder so we should anticipate a bad break and partner having only three and therefore give full weight to suit quality in our choice between 2♥ and X->2♥.