Double a 1NT overcall

• Question 1 (of 3 on this page)

  Everyone is vulnerable. You open the bidding with 1 Spade. Your LHO overcalls 1NT. Your partner doubles this 1NT.
  
  What does he mean ?

  1. Double for penalty, 16-18 HCP
  2. Balanced hand, 12-14 HCP
  3. I've got 8+ HCP, but not enough to bid at the 2-level for various reasons
  4. Something quite different
  
  Back to explanation

• Answer 1 (of 3 on this page)

  Everyone is vulnerable. You open the bidding with 1 Spade. Your LHO overcalls 1NT. Your partner doubles this 1NT.
  
  What does he mean ?

  ( 3 ). I've got 8+ HCP, but not enough to bid at the 2-level for various reasons
  
  Doubling a 1NT is always for penalties, right ? Well, that's still kind of true here. The doubler is saying we have at least half the points, maybe a lot more, please partner can you decide what to do. Doubler is also saying he cannot bid at the 2-level. But he might have 10+ HCP, if his good Heart suit is a 4-card suit, not 5.
  
  Back to explanation

• Question 2 (of 3 on this page)

  Everyone is vulnerable. You open the bidding with 1 Spade. Your LHO overcalls 1NT. Your partner doubles. You have this 7-loser 12-HCP hand
  
  A J 10 8 6
  8 7
  K Q 4 3
  Q 9
  
  What should you bid ?

  1. Pass
  2. 2 Clubs
  3. 2 Diamonds
  4. 2 Hearts
  5. 2 Spades
  
  Back to explanation

• Answer 2 (of 3 on this page)

  Everyone is vulnerable. You open the bidding with 1 Spade. Your LHO overcalls 1NT. Your partner doubles. You have this 7-loser 12-HCP hand
  
  A J 10 8 6
  8 7
  K Q 4 3
  Q 9
  
  What should you bid ?

  ( 3 ). 2 Diamonds
  
  With a 20+HCP, and likely 16 loser count, you are unlikely to get game. On the other hand, the enemy could have 20 HCP, and doubling them seems risky. The better bet would seem to be to bid your second suit.
  
  Back to explanation

• Question 3 (of 3 on this page)

  You are not vulnerable, but the enemy is. You open the bidding with 1 Spade. Your LHO overcalls 1NT. Your partner doubles. You have this fantastic 6-loser 16-HCP hand
  
  A K J 10 6
  8 7
  A K 9 4
  J 10
  
  What should you bid ?

  1. Pass
  2. 2 Clubs
  3. 2 Diamonds
  4. 2 Hearts
  5. 2 Spades
  6. 3 Clubs
  7. 3 Diamonds
  8. 3 Hearts
  9. 3 Spades
  
  Back to explanation

• Answer 3 (of 3 on this page)

  You are not vulnerable, but the enemy is. You open the bidding with 1 Spade. Your LHO overcalls 1NT. Your partner doubles. You have this fantastic 6-loser 16-HCP hand
  
  A K J 10 6
  8 7
  A K 9 4
  J 10
  
  What should you bid ?

  ( 1 ). Pass
  
  With a certain 24HCP, and potentially more, and a guaranteed 15 loser count, you have a good chance of game. Your partner however has denied 4 Spades, and you might not find a major fit. You could keep the bidding going, bid 3 Diamonds, but passing might be better, and more fun, to watch the enemy go down a lot, doubled and vulnerable.
  
  Back to explanation