[TWO4BRIDGE]

Partner ( North ) deals and opens 1C ( 3+ cards... playing 2/1 ).
pass
You ( South ) respond 1S
pass
Partner rebids 1NT
You are poised to rebid 2D! ( NMF ), but East sticks in a DBL .

1C - ( p ) - 1S - ( p )
1NT - ( X ) - ??

What do you think the DBL means ( I didn't ask... I figured I knew what it meant ) ?
And what is your action now ?

Your hand:
K Q 9 x x x
Q x
T x x
A Q

Spoiler

If you RDBL, it goes: (pass) pass ( 2D ) .
How do you continue ?

[manudude03]

I play double shows a takeout of spades (2443?). It is worth discussing with partner whether it shows that or a trap pass of 1C.

As for what you do, I like systems on, but I bid 4S. It should work out ok unless partner is 1435.

[whereagles]

+1

[aguahombre]

The premise that I was prepared to bid NMF doesn't compute. The double doesn't interfere with my intent to bid 4S, and I will have extra information during the play.

If I had a hand where I wanted the information I could obtain from the NMF, the double doesn't prevent me from doing so.

A redouble would suggest I don't want to know if partner has 3-card support, but rather whether partner would like to cooperate in punishing the opponents (invite strength). All partner needs to double the runout would be 3 cards in the suit.

A general principle would be that a call which takes up no room should not prevent you from doing what you wanted to do; and you should use it to advantage when possible.

Another case would be when it goes:

1S-1N (dbl), where 1NT was forcing and you would have had to rebid a 3-card minor perforce. The double took up no room, so you can still rebid a suit you actually have; but you can gain by passing with a 5-3-3-2 minimum and redoubling with a 5-3-3-2 mountain which would have normally rebid 2NT.

This post has been edited by aguahombre: 2011-November-13, 19:10

[JLOGIC]

Yeah this could reasonably be played as t/o of spades or a trap of 1C. The former is def more common.

[andy_h]

Although not ideal I also like to play system on with the addition of XX available for a good bal hand that's interested in penalising (forcing the auction up to 2NT).

[han]

I definitely prefer system off.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

I too thought the DBL was a T/O of Spades, but East had a Red 2-suiter that he apparently did not want to show immediately with an Un2NT over the 1C opening . ( They were red vs white ) .
I felt my DBL and then jump in Spades ( to 3S ) would show my strength and shape in a GF context .
( Any number of bid Spades over the DBL would have been NF/invitational ).

And apparently from the posts here, the question of whether NMF is ON or OFF over the DBL must be discussed w/partner .
I do like Aquaman's System ON principle ( which I would apply to a DBL ONLY for System ON ): "...a call which takes up no room should not prevent you from doing what you wanted to do " .

---

[aguahombre]

Now, here is a monkey wrench to throw into the machinery:

Perhaps those who normally play 2-way NMF should learn and agree upon the effective responses to 1-way for this case. The double does increase the value and frequency of responder having a hand which will want to show weakness and good club support. We would definitely want to be able to rebid 2C right now to show that, before the opponents compete further.

When we truly have the invite-plus hand which would want to NMF, it is unlikely there will be competition; but, with only half the deck and a club fit, the opponents are very likely to be in there.

[pooltuna]

XX