I think snapdragons are good but again it needs discussion. The wikipedia says:
" It is a call of double by fourth hand, when three different suits have been bid by the first three players and shows a good holding in the fourth suit (generally six cards, though some partnerships allow five) and tolerance for partner's suit."
I have generally thought of it as showing five.
I then looked up Washington Standard (Steve Robinson). His thought is that after 1
- 1
- 1
a double shows hearts, usually five (and
tolerance), and a hand not strong enough to simply bid 2
, but 1
- 1
- 1
-X is only four cards in
since it is at the one level. With five spades you just bid the spades.
I expect other views are lying around somewhere.
As to 1
- (1
) - 3
-(x) as Rosenkranz. This also would have to be used sparingly. If partner overcalled on
AQJxx and an outside K somewhere, what is he to do? He needs more from partner than the
K to make 3
and he probably also needs more than the
K to beat 3
X. So the doubler needs extras and the partnership needs to be on the same wavelength as to just how much extra can be expected.
I have never played Rosenkranz doubles so I am not sure, and that's an understatement, just what else besides a fitting honor is expected. Playing 3
in a 5-2 fit is tough so I suppose the X promises enough defense to make it likely that 3
X can be defeated, even if that 1
was on not all that much. It's true that defeating 3
is more likely if we get the
lead from
AQJxx. In short, overcaller has to know when he should pull to 3
, when he should sit.
Added: I was thinking a bit more about 1
- (1
) - 3
. Presumably the opponents have at least 9 hearts between them and so we have at most four. With twenty-two non-hearts we must have at least an eight card fit in at least one suit. The problem is that we don't know where. That's why preempts work, of course. But now suppose the X over 3
shows either Kx or Ax as you suggest. Then when overcaller has exactly five spades he knows the fit is not in spades so he knows that there is a fit in one of the minors. They still have to find which minor and they still have to be prepared to play at the four level if they don't want to play in their 5-2 fit or defend 3
X. When pvercaller has six spades, as he sometimes will, he can then just rebid 3
.
I am thinking that no matter what the X means it is not going to be used that often. I'm inclined to keep it as responsive just for simplicity. After they bid and raise to the 3 level in the suit below ours, then if trumps have been set our way the X is maximal, but if trumps have not yet been set our way the X is responsive showing the other two suits. But I can see other agreements could be useful.
Bottom line: If a pair has agreed to play responsive doubles through 3
then they should discuss just what they mean by this agreement.
Fwiw, BWS says "Among advancer's actions when responder raises opener: a double is not for penalty (for takeout or showing general values, depending on level)." This is pretty brief, more is needed.