[jillybean]

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I am happy to bid 1nt here but is it better to show 3 card support for partner and give up playing in nt?

[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2026-February-27, 10:33, said:

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I am happy to bid 1nt here but is it better to show 3 card support for partner and give up playing in nt?

Why does a support double mean giving up on playing in NT? Yes, it almost certainly gives up on playing in 1N but sometimes partner has a good hand and you’ll have a chance to show your stopper(s) later.

To me a more important question is whether to bid at all. You have a truly horrible hand. Your QJx in diamonds is terrible offensively. Your shape is awful. Your hand is extremely soft.

Many partnerships play that passing here absolutely denies 3 hearts and those partnerships have to double or take an anti systemic view and pass (or bid notrump, which I consider worse). Others permit opener to pass in a support double position if their hand has degraded to very weak. I prefer that view but my main partner prefers the first, so I’d double, hating it.

[jillybean]

Yes, give up playing in 1nt, it doesn't seem likely that we will be competing to 2nt in this live auction.

[DavidKok]

I think it is best to not play support doubles at all. Alternatively, conditional on playing them, I think it is good to allow some room for judgement.

However, that is not how I play support doubles. If I play them, I normally consider them mandatory. When used that way they are a crude tool that simplifies some decisions at the cost of losing in some other ways. Deciding not to make a support double for texture reasons, while holding 3-card support, in a partnership where support doubles are mandatory is simply masterminding. If you play simple support doubles, you should double here.
Of course, more generally, at the table you should make your systemic bid. If that puts you in a tough spot, discuss the option of changing the agreement after the event only.

[mike777]

If partner expects you to open this piece of junk then yes make a support double.

I open light but strongly prefer passing these ...

This hand is Three tricks below a minimum..

[jillybean]

mike777, on 2026-February-27, 11:50, said:

If partner expects you to open this piece of junk then yes make a support double.

I open light but strongly prefer passing these ...

This hand is Three tricks below a minimum..

Junk! yes, definitely lighter end but an opening bid in my system.

I could have added 1nt, X or pass to my OP but it's really a more general question, support X or last chance to bid 1nt

[pescetom]

This situation does look like a good argument against Support Doubles for those of us who are dabbling but still on the fence.
I would be torn between 1NT and Pass.

[akwoo]

I'm asking opps what their minimum expected values are.

If they're aggressive overcallers and advancers, I bid 1N; otherwise X. Even if I'm masterminding to bid 1N.

If we're playing in game, I want to be in 3N even if partner has 5 hearts. But if we don't have values for game, I'd prefer to be hearts.