[bd71]

1♣-(P)-1♠-(X)
XX

Playing 2/1 if that matters. An infrequent partner and I had a disagreement about whether redouble here would standardly show [a] spade support or [b] extra strength and no clear direction. Or is there some [c] answer?

[P_Marlowe]

bd71, on 2010-November-03, 00:36, said:

1♣-(P)-1♠-(X)
XX

Playing 2/1 if that matters. An infrequent partner and I had a disagreement about whether redouble here would standardly show [a] spade support or [b] extra strength and no clear direction. Or is there some [c] answer?

Both styles [a]/[b] are playable, although [a] is better phrased as XX = showing 3 card support,
so that a direct raise to 2S showes 4 card support.

We currently play XX as showing add. strength, but we also play a weak NT, so the frequency of being
able to make the XX is ok, if you play strong NT, opener cant have the bal. 15-17 hand any more, so
the frequency for the XX drops.
As a consequence - in a strong NT system playing [a] will be more useful than playing [b].

It may also make sense to play XX as transfer.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Playing Support Doubles , this Redouble shows 3 card Sp support ( regardless of strength ); a Sp raise would show 4 cards with the level depending on strength.

[awm]

The (old) standard meaning is probably cards, something like 18/19 balanced looking to penalize the opponents.

Almost everyone now plays support redoubles in this auction though. That's what I'd assume playing 2/1 without discussion.

[gszeszycki]

if you have not agreed to play support x xx the xx here will generally show an unbalanced hand with extra values (say 16+) with almost assuredly spades as a short suit or a more balanced hand with 18+. All of the other hand combinations are relatively easy to show via 1n 2c 2s 2n 3n or even 2d/2h.

[bucky]

At least in North America, support double is a very popular convention, but it is still marked as red (alertable) on the convention card. The way I see it, if we haven't discussed anything, I would not assume that we play any alertable conventions.

[Zelandakh]

Old-style meaning = strong hand with good defence.
Most common current meaning = 3 spades.
Another possible meaning is xxx in spades (with Hxx show support directly)