My view is similar to the above. Basically, a double of 3
means "I am not letting them play 3
undoubled". And yes, it is expected thatpard will pull to something.
1
- (1
) - 3
- (pass)
pass - (?)
A double requires partner to make a choice. You need to decide if you are apt to be happy with that choice. To think that through, it does matter what conventions we are playing. Partner did not make a responsive double over 3
. Perhaps this is because we are not playing that
1
- (1
) - 3
- (X)
is responsive. The point is that partner's pass, together with our agreements, says something about what he has or hasn't got and so says something about how he will respond to a double. We want to think about that. Maybe we want to take a chance, that's the way bridge is, but we can think a little about what pard will do when we double.
With the actual hand overcaller had a three card diamond suit. The opening 1
was preemptively raised to 3
after the overcall. Overcaller can suppose that partner is short in diamonds although perhaps that 1
opening was on a 4=4=3=2 shape. Depends on what agreements the opponents have. Acolers probably open a 4=4=3=2 shape with 1
or maybe 1
, or of course maybe 1NT. Anyway, we assume, probably correctly, pard is short in diamonds. If he is also short in hearts, why didn't he make a responsive double, assuming we are playing responsive doubles in that sequence. Well, maybe he is 3=2=2=6. Or 3=2=1=7. Or some such.
I could go on. If overcaller holds three
s then after the preemptive raise it is likely that opener has only four diamonds [I just looked, opener had five diamonds, preempted four, unxepcted but it still gives pard of the overcaller a stiff]. What do we make of the fact he opened 1
instead of 1NT? I guess we should check the range of an opening NT call, and then assume opener probably falls outside that range [It seems, from looking at the boards, they were playing strong NT].
But of course we are not given this much time to think. In the finals of the BB, maybe we get to think all this through, but not in casual games. So we go with the short version. Double means partner has to choose what to do and we had better be prepared for whatever choice he makes. When overcaller holds three diamonds he can pretty well bet that pard's choice will not be to leave the double in.
As to what 3
(by overcaller) means, it's got to be at least a bit on a hope and a prayer. It's a hand that is not worth doubling and then bidding hearts, so 3
is hoping for the best. Again, if a direct double of 3
would have been responsive then overcaller can be a bit more confident that pard has a couple of hearts. Either that or very long clubs.
X by overcaller says "Pard, you choose, do your best", X says "Pard, I choose this, I hope it's right"