[dboxley]

1♣ (1♥) DBL (Pass) ?

Differentiate between 1♠, 2♠, 3♠, 4♠

This is for my partner's benefit, thanks.

[Cyberyeti]

1♠ - I have 4 spades and nothing special
2♠ - I'm too good for 1♠, NF 15-17 ish

I wouldn't bid 3 or 4 I think ever, although if there are hands with 5/6♣/5♠ that you open 1♣ they might come in.

Most really good hands I go through 2♥.

I play new suit rather than X as forcing, not sure how this changes if you don't.

[manudude03]

It needs partnership agreement really. I like to play:
1S = balanced minimum with 4 spades (rarely 3)
2S = unbalanced minumum with 4 spades.
3S = 15-17 (unbalanced) with 4 spades.
4S = 18-19 support points, 4 spades.

[Codo]

It is partnership agreement.

I like 1 ♠ shows 3 Spades, no better bid avaiable- and first choice with f.e. 3145.
2 ♠ shows 4 spades, unbalanced 11-14- we play weak NT.
3 ♠ shows 4+ Spaded 15-17
4 ♠ shows 4+ spades 18-19

Playing a strong NT opening, I would play Waynes world- post Nr. 3.

[Zelandakh]

Keep it simple. Everything keeps its normal meaning and 1♠ becomes a non-forcing support double.

1♠ = min with 3 spades
2♠ = min with 4 spades
3♠ = invite with 4 spades
4♠ = max with 4 spades and unsuitable for a splinter (you could choose to pass this through the cue if you prefer)

[ahydra]

Zelandakh, on 2013-February-26, 07:54, said:

Keep it simple. Everything keeps its normal meaning and 1♠ becomes a non-forcing support double.

1♠ = min with 3 spades
2♠ = min with 4 spades
3♠ = invite with 4 spades
4♠ = max with 4 spades and unsuitable for a splinter (you could choose to pass this through the cue if you prefer)

This is roughly what I play as well, though I wonder if the same is true of my partners...

ahydra

[aguahombre]

The simple way of looking at it is:

If the double meant doubler would have responded 1S without the overcall, we bid as if there had been a 1S response. The gain is when we might have had to raise to 2S with only 3 of them because the pattern was awkward; now we only have to rebid 1S.