[asbell]

What on earth is this penalty double of 3NT on a scattered 5 HCP about? Even if it expects a fifth diamond from me, there is no reason at all to be making a double with this rubbish. Is it some bizarre simulation outcome?

And why does no-one at BBO seemingly care about fixing this sort of appalling bidding? Captive market, I guess.

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[johnu]

Solid double, no overtricks. Unfortunate that E/W had their bids.

[steve2005]

your lucky opps didnt redouble 2♦

[mycroft]

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I agree. It's totally unreasonable to think that 3NT will only go down one more than 2♦.

Yes, your opponents made the wrong guess. And your partner failed to let them guess wrong. And that turned an average -400 into a near-bottom -550 (that could have been a clear bottom -760 or -960, or -800 or more, of course). But your partner believed you - that your diamonds were such that on the requested diamond lead, 3NT or 4♥ would score worse than without it, and that they were such that *if they sat for 2♦, you expected to set it*. And if you have that hand, since:

• hearts probably don't run;
  
• North has a probable club entry; and
  
• not only can North make that requested diamond lead, there's a good chance she'll be able to do it again;

yeah, it probably does go down on that "scattered 5 count".

And don't you want partner to believe you?

I do agree with you that it's a hopeless double of 3NT; but only because I know there are many many more bridge players who will double here with 2♦ making (overtricks) then who have been burned by it and have stopped doubling with these "suits".

But ignoring "ATB" for a minute - what are you hoping to accomplish with that double?

Even if you hit non-penalty-seekers like me, you still give us the opportunity to differentiate between 2-, 3-, and 4-card heart support (which might get us to a 4♥ game that "doesn't have the points"). But many *can* send it back. Even if they don't, there are only two reasons to double 2♦, and:

• you don't really want partner to lead a diamond "even if she has to find one from another board", even over a natural lead from their good suit;
  
• and you don't really want partner to sacrifice in 5♦ over 4♥ when opener has 4 hearts and two diamonds instead (do you?).

P.S. We have a policy of not using others' nicks on the forums without their permission. I haven't edited your OP to remove them, because in this case, it's clear there's no intent (or accidental ability) to shame or bully them (and it's important to know they were humans and not robots). I have removed them in my reply, as you see.

[Huibertus]

Not the hand to complain about partner imho. Had you played against me and my real life partner no way you would have escaped 2♦XX.

[asbell]

I am playing a MP tournament and want a diamond lead against the likely 3NT as that is the best way of limiting the number of tricks they take. Playing IMPs there is not as much point. Yes, there is a risk of being hit for 2♦xx, but in general most pairs either do not have a method or don't find it; many don't have a good method for differentiating hands over the x either. At a national-level tournament things would be different I am sure.

I showed 6+ HCP. So there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for the bot to double 3NT.

It is striking that however utterly asinine the bot's bid, more people will come on here critiquing the human's bid... such is the internet I guess. But it lets BBO off the hook.

[mycroft]

If you have a partnership agreement that "all I am trying to do is minimize overtricks" - more power to you. I don't think it's alertable, but I would assume you'd explain that if asked. Somehow, I expect the number of pairs to find the blue card will increase on that explanation, but again, more power to you.

But the bot has a system, and *you* are required to play *its system*. It is incapable of adapting to partners. And, with a robot as partner, you can't afford to double here, because the bot thinks you can set 2♦, and no amount of explanation about "matchpoint play" will make it understand.

Same as bidding 2♦ over their 1NT with a long diamond suit, or with diamonds and hearts, or with just hearts. The bot plays Cappelletti, and nothing you can say will get it to play Natural, or Brozel, or transfers.

Same as the dreaded "there are no penalty doubles below game" that you've almost certainly seen multiple forum posts about.

Same as "you can't check for kings to play 6NT missing an ace" (another matchpoint agreement) because the bot *will* bid the grand with "enough to make it".

As I said, I agree that the double of 3NT is a poor bid playing with the average pickup partner, because the average pickup partner has never had their lead-directing doubles sent back and therefore doubles on suits they shouldn't. But HCP also don't enter into it - HCP doesn't set contracts. 5 tricks sets 3NT, and AQJxx and partner's entry is likely 5 tricks (not when declarer has K fifth, you can't win them all, but when dummy has Kxx it does). And the bot *knows that*, and knows that that's what you'll have for the double of 2♦. And *nothing* you can do will change it's mind - it doesn't have one.

I'm not "critiquing". Okay, I am a little; I actually don't think a diamond lead *will* lead to another trick more often than not with only AJ9x, and you certainly will feel a little silly when partner leads a diamond instead of fourth from ♠KQ9xx and out. But one of the skills of a bridge player is to be able to adapt to their partner's card and style, because there are some partners who can't adapt to yours (some of whom don't understand that there could *be* a different system or style). If you haven't been saddled with one of those before, congratulations, now you have. It's not "letting BBO off the hook" to say that if you don't bid the bot's system, the bot might punish you for it; it's "half a loaf" land.