Mark:
Another interesting competitive bidding hand. West's negative double is near the low end of the range for a negative double, but I agree with it and would have done the same. You promise at least 4 cards in each of the remaining 2 suits and enough strength to suggest competing.
Since E-W are not vulnerable, you could afford to go down 1 or even 2 (if un- doubled) and show a profit compared to minus 110 or 130. You could have a stronger (even opening bid strength) hand with 4+ distribution in the unbid suits.
If West has the stronger hand, the next bid must be invitational,
forcing or game, as appropriate. If W has a very weak hand, much weaker than
this one, that should be Alerted, assuming that E knows that to be a real
possibility. Otherwise, N-S could claim to be injured if they are talked out of
competing further. Such a weak double wouldn't be "illegal" but
outside of the usual expectations that opponents would typically rely on; hence
the Alert.2 NT could be set 100 on the likely club lead, which might be an OK
score compared to most N-S pairs bidding and making several clubs.
If E bids 2 hearts after the negative double it
usually shows a 6 card suit. However, this 5 card suit is so strong, a lot of
players, me included, would bid 2 hearts. It's hard to be sure how the play
would go on the actual hand. It might be no better than NT. If S is an
enterprising bidder, she will bid 3 clubs because of the lovely suit. If she is
conservative, she will pass because of the limited points. If 2 hearts is
passed by S and comes back to north, a double by N in the pass-out seat is
"reopening" or "D.S.I" (Do something intelligent). In this
case, whether South re- bids clubs or passes the double, it looks intelligent(
for bidding) or brilliant (for passing.) I would bid. It looks too risky to pass.
Most roads lead to a N-S plus score, so holding it to 100 or less should be OK
for E-W.
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