[TimG]

Suppose the auction goes:

A)
1♠-2♣-P-2♥
P-2N-P-3N
DBL- all pass

Would most interpret this double as requesting a non-spade lead? Would it be specifically hearts, or could it be either red suit?

How about:

B )
1♠-2♣-P-2♠
P-2N-P-3N
DBL-all pass

Would most interpret this double as requesting a non-spade lead? If so, there would be no hearts vs diamonds inference, would there?

In this last sequence, opener had an opportunity to double 2♠:

C)
1♠-2♣-P-2♠
DBL-2N-P-3N
all pass

Do most people play this sort of double (double of a the cue-bid of a suit we have already shown) as requesting a lead in another suit, in this case a non-spade lead? (Of course, if responder had doubled a spade cue-bid after having not supported, that would suggest something in spades.)

If so, how does

B )
1♠-2♣-P-2♠
P-2N-P-3N
DBL-all pass

differ from

D)
1♠-2♣-P-2♠
DBL-2N-P-3N
DBL-all pass?

Perhaps B ) should say we have this beat on a normal spade lead and D) should say we have this beat on a non-spade lead? That is, A) should be an exception to the general rule that the double of a freely bid 3N asks for a non-obvious lead. More generally, when a player has had an opportunity to double a cue-bid to suggest leading another suit and later doubles the opponents, that suggests the normal lead (my suit) will beat the contract.

[Mbodell]

I play (some of this based on Lawrence's book on leads)

A) Lead a spade.
I play lead a spade, but I think standard is lead a red card.
C) I play don't lead a spade, but I think standard is lead a spade.
D) I'm not sure. It would mean dummy's suit for me, but in this auction where dummy hasn't bid a suit I'm not sure if it should just mean a red card or maybe even clubs.

[jdonn]

I wouldn't play any of these doubles as lead directing. In all cases I would tend to lead partner's suit (essentially I would make my normal lead but that's very likely to be partner's suit since if he doubles I'm going to be weak.) His double would usually show a good holding in any suit bid on his right but I'm not asked to lead it, I'm just inferring that if he thinks they are down then he must think they are getting bad breaks.

[gnasher]

A says lead a heart
B says lead my strong red suit
C is a takeout double of clubs.

[Lobowolf]

I thought the generic standard agreement was that the double means "lead my suit" first. If we haven't bid, then second in the heirarchy is "Lead dummy's suit." I think an exception should be made when the partner of the leader could have doubled the suit for the lead in the auction, though.

[Codo]

To me

A is lead something intelligent, most likely a heart.
B lead my red suit.
C I have really good spades
D I really have 5+ tricks

[Gerben42]

A. Lead a ♥ (dummy's 1st suit)

B. Pass = lack of "Don't lead me" Dbl, so this is just penalty. Lead a ♠ lacking something better.

C. Whatever you do, don't lead a ♠

D. We got this beat as long as you don't lead a ♠.

[benlessard]

Double of a cuebid arent lead directing they should be competitive, they suggest partner to bid 3S over 3C (unless opps are in a clear GF). Im quite fond of lightner but competitive X are more important.

So all double here are lightner and ask for a non-spade.

A--- i would lead D unless i have a stiff H (so i know partner got H over advancer)

BCD i would lead a red suit.