[kgr]

(I play in Belgium, but I don't think it really matters).
We play that a 1NT overcall is for the two lowest unbid suits.
Therefor the following DBL can also contain the normal 1NT hands (15-17 with good stop):
(1♥)-DBL
- Is it better to alert this behind screens?
- In Belgium you are not allowed to alert DBL's if not behind screens, but suppose you are in another country where you can alert DBL's. Is it better to alert this without screens?

My question because I wonder if an alert really matters at this moment for the opps. A standard DBL can also include stronger hands. Maybe an alert at this moment is adding more confusion (also because I needed to explain in French and my native language is Dutch).

[paulg]

I agree that it is not worth alerting. It is not sufficiently unexpected for a takeout double.

However you should probably alert a rebid that shows 15-17, when in 'standard' people would expect a much stronger balanced hand.