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VM1973, on 2011-September-08, 17:01, said:
{added by FH: JLOGIC SAID}
-Complete max non opener
-No spade honor
-Good defense
-Four hearts
-Not vulnerable
1. Well you have 24 ZPs so all right.
2. Agreed.
3. I disagree. You have 1.5 quick tricks - that's not what I consider "good defense" against a 3-level contract.
4. Agreed.
5. Irrelevant.
Vulnerability is hugely relevant. One thing I've changed a lot in my bidding over the last few years is to take much more account of vulnerability, not just in opening pre-empts and marginal game decisions (the 'traditional' times) but in 1-level openings, overcalls... everywhere.
Being NV here is very important. One of the things that can go wrong with doubling is when partner has a weak-NT type hand (like some of the ones you've been suggesting) and you have no real fit and go 2 or 3 off undoubled - undoubled because you have quite a few high cards and trumps don't fall over, but you are just lacking length tricks and have too many spades. NV that is -100 or -150 which might be basically flat against 140, or cost 5 imps against 3S-1; if you are vulnerable it's now -200 or -300 and the downside is noticeably worse. And if they are going to double, I'd definitely prefer to be NV.
I voted for double, but the thing that makes me most nervous about it is the doubleton spade; that's what I really hate. Partner knows that I nearly always have a singleton and will evaluate accordingly. But then I'd have opened this hand, so it's much rarer for me to have a hand with a doubleton for a protective double... if we are conservative openers, then partner will act accordingly.
p.s. I'd have opened this hand as we are NV. I probably wouldn't have opened vulnerable. Another example.