[straube]

So partner opens 2D to show six diamonds and 10-15, no major. I'll list what I'm thinking for interference...

For dbl...

P-bad hand or good hand with something like 4-4-4-1. This hand doubles later to show ambivalence.
rdbl-good hand that wants to whack two strains
all else-systems on


For 2H

dbl-negative showing 5 spades
2S-invitational with stopper
2N-clubs
3C-inv+ raise
3D-weak raise
3H-stopper ask
3S-fit showing

For 2S

dbl-negative showing 5 hearts
2N-clubs
3C-inv+ raise
3D-weak raise
3H-fit showing
3S-stopper ask

For 3C

dbl-thrump (asks stopper)
3D-raise
3H-H
3S-S


For 3H

dbl-thrump (asks stopper)
3S-S

For 3S

dbl-thrump (asks stopper)
4C-H and C
4D-raise
4H-H

[mgoetze]

straube, on 2012-March-26, 20:38, said:

So partner opens 2D to show six diamonds and 10-15, no major.

My first thought is: if I'm ever playing penalty doubles, then over this kind of opening.

[akhare]

straube, on 2012-March-26, 20:38, said:

For 2H

dbl-negative showing 5 spades
2S-invitational with stopper
2N-clubs
3C-inv+ raise
3D-weak raise
3H-stopper ask
3S-fit showing

Looks reasonable, though you can change a few things:

For example, over 2H:

2S: Clubs
2N: Invitational with stopper

[the hog]

When I played Symmetric with 2C and 2D showing the hand type you describe, the most lucrative use of double by responder was penalties. Why you would want to give that up, I don't know.

eg
2D (2S) KJxx Axxx x xxxx

Christmas comes but once a year, but when it comes it brings good cheer.

[WellSpyder]

mgoetze, on 2012-March-26, 20:41, said:

My first thought is: if I'm ever playing penalty doubles, then over this kind of opening.

+1.

I have a partner who doesn't believe in the value of pre-empts in the minors, so we play an opening 3♣/♦ as showing 10-14 with a good 6 card suit (and no 4-card major or 3-3 majors). This allows an occasional good light 3N, but the biggest plus from these openings by quite some way is playing penalty doubles when oppo still feel the need to compete. The gain may be slightly less when you are a level lower, but still seems worthwhile to me when you have such a clear picture of what opener has.

[straube]

I looked at hands for 2C (2H). My impression for these was that double was better off showing spades. Many times responder has length in hearts, opener is able to reopen with a double. It's a little dangerous. The other thing, however, was that it's a little hard to catch them in 2H doubled because advancer can often rescue with spades. It's more likely that a penalty double of 2S will stick. However, it really might be nice to uncover a 5-3 heart fit before committing to the 3-level.

[straube]

dbl=inv+ hand with 1-3 cd support for the minor, this bid forces to at least 3m so that opener may show a feature (2N?) along the way.
suit=natural, f
2N=Lebensohl. this is a way to compete in the minor with a 2-fit or a bad hand and a 3-fit
3m=constructive raise, this bid empowers opener to compete with his minor. It rarely but occasionally leads to 3N when opener has the "right" hand.
cue bids=invitational+ with 4-fit or perhaps 3 with enemy shortness

Penalty doubles are good, but looking at hands, it seems like opener is able to make a balancing double when partner has a stack.
Negative doubles are good, but they seem infrequent. Usually they aren't successful, either, because opener just doesn't have a fit for responder's major.

dbls that show invitational+ hands will only in certain cases let opener pass for penalty, but they handle many hands. They let opener double at the 3-level or bid 3N etc. They're empowering, especially if responder denies having a super-fit. Basically, he's showing tolerance (usually 2 or 3) for opener's suit.

2N as Lebensohl usually is a way to take the bump to 3m. It could be a poor hand with a fit or a constructive hand with a 2-fit. In either case, it warns partner not to bid further. 2N also handles those hands where responder has a 6 or 7-card suit of his own and wants to play there without inviting game.

2N as natural invitational is useful in showing a stopper right away. Often, though, the hand plays better in NT from opener's side if he has a stopper and he'll try to show one. He almost should try to show a partial stopper, but that's probably pushing it.

[mgoetze]

straube, on 2012-March-29, 22:19, said:

Penalty doubles are good, but looking at hands, it seems like opener is able to make a balancing double when partner has a stack.

Uhhuh, so what hands are you planning to make a balancing double on?

If it goes 2♦ by you, 2♥ by my partner, pass by your partner, can I now pass with a 4333 12-count so as to really whack you hard when you reopen?

[straube]

mgoetze, on 2012-March-30, 06:02, said:

Uhhuh, so what hands are you planning to make a balancing double on?

If it goes 2♦ by you, 2♥ by my partner, pass by your partner, can I now pass with a 4333 12-count so as to really whack you hard when you reopen?

You could, but what if opener has hearts and doesn't reopen? Looking at hands, when responder has five hearts, opener very often has 3163. If he's not short hearts, he won't reopen.

[Avoidance]

2♦(2♠)?

dbl 4-5H
2NT Puppet to 3C i)to play or ii)or then 3D to play
3C 6H+ INV+
3D INV
3H TFR-no S stopper
3S TFR i)to play 3NT or ii)slam try with C - follow with 4C or iii)slam try with D support -follow with 4D

2♦(2♥)?

2S NF
dbl 4-5S
2NT TFR - clubs weakish to play 3C (or GF not worried about wrongsiding)
3C TFR i)weak raise or ii)no H stopper follow with 3H*
3D INV
3H 6S+ INV+
3S TFR i)ii)iii) as above

[straube]

Avoidance, on 2012-March-30, 12:44, said:

2♦(2♠)?

dbl 4-5H
2NT Puppet to 3C i)to play or ii)or then 3D to play
3C 6H+ INV+
3D INV
3H TFR-no S stopper
3S TFR i)to play 3NT or ii)slam try with C - follow with 4C or iii)slam try with D support -follow with 4D

2♦(2♥)?

2S NF
dbl 4-5S
2NT TFR - clubs weakish to play 3C (or GF not worried about wrongsiding)
3C TFR i)weak raise or ii)no H stopper follow with 3H*
3D INV
3H 6S+ INV+
3S TFR i)ii)iii) as above

Thanks for thinking it through. Seems very playable.