I have a suggestion that is going to be shot down out of the sky as soon as it posts, but:
Don't let your opp's takeout doubles change the basic structure of your bidding system.
In other words, except for some additional options that the double gives you, ignore the danged thing and just bid as you would have without the double.
Yes, I usually prefer that 1NT by resp remain forcing one round as it would be w/o the dbl, 2 level bids are as if no dbl had occurred (or you can use transfer responses to alleviate that issue). So, if you normally play 4H as splinter, why change? If it's a fit raise, you can actually devise a simple distinction between a fit raise with 3 versus 4-card support. If a bid at the 2-level is still forcing one round, then it's available to show a shape raise should partner next bid 4S.
Old fashioned? Perhaps. But, the only thing you lose is being able to play in 1NT (chances are it ain't staying there, anyway), and one can resolve that issue & play in 1NT if one plays that a XX shows a hand that normally would have bid 1NT F-1 without the dbl, sort of a negative redbl. [Just some weird, non-mainstream ideas.]
Getting back to the issue at hand: If 4H is splinter, then half of your hand is likely wasted. I'm all for trying to describe my hand in as few bids as possible so, therefore, I expect the 4H hand to have values in both minors, making slam unlikely.
DHL
cooperate or not?
#22
Posted 2008-July-19, 06:27
Double !, on Jul 19 2008, 12:23 AM, said:
I have a suggestion that is going to be shot down out of the sky as soon as it posts, but:
[ugh!]
[ugh!]
I have another suggestion. DOn't let partner's actual choice of Opening bid change your entire responsive structure. Play systems on as if opened 1NT over all the openings! Then, you cann0ot get confused about what things mean.
The only thing you give up is the ability to play at the one-level in a suit, and who does that anyway?

"Gibberish in, gibberish out. A trial judge, three sets of lawyers, and now three appellate judges cannot agree on what this law means. And we ask police officers, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and citizens to enforce or abide by it? The legislature continues to write unreadable statutes. Gibberish should not be enforced as law."
-P.J. Painter.
-P.J. Painter.