November bidding contest: the results!

A relatively normal auction. Three options seem “plausible”: passing, doubling or bidding 2♦. Let us start with the real minority bid of 2♦.

Pacault: “2♦. It is probably possible to find a red-suit contract (I play double as penalties but that does not seem appropriate without a club stop or a spade fit).”

Note in this comment that Pacault plays double as penalties in this sequence but you will see that this option is no longer in fashion. Indeed, nowadays, where a 1♠ overcall is made with worse and worse hands, it ends up being difficult to know when to punish the opponents whom no-one forced to bid 1NT.

Twice as many votes for passing.
Kerlero: “Pass. Why stick your nose in when both sides appear to be in a misfit?” as well as Libbrecht: “Pass. In this situation, my partner should be weak and we will often be in a misfit. Despite the vulnerability, I will be sensible and pass” and Rocafort: “Pass. The opponents have made positive bids without being under pressure and my hand has no offensive value. A double in this position would show hearts and tolerance for spades.”
Rocafort’s comment gives us a segue towards the meaning of a double in this sequence. Take-out for the other two suits, say fourteen experts, including:

Lévy: “Double. Take-out for the other two suits, often 5-5 but it is the bid which is closest to the cards.”

Harari: “Double. I play that this initially shows at least nine cards in the unbid suits.”

Kokish: “Double. Not penalties, diamonds and hearts, not perfect with only four hearts. Unlikely that North will pass; the main aim is to find a good part-score in a red suit.”

Allavena: “Double. I am more and more willingly playing doubles as showing the other two suits (with the correct hand and the shortage in the overcalled suit).”

Jill Meyers: “Double. This is a perfect example for explaining why double should be take-out in the majority of situations, rather than penalties.”

Thuillez: “Double. It would be ideal to have five cards in hearts but these are worth being shown.”

Cronier: “Double. The other two suits. Not very sensible as it is likely that we are in a misfit but my partner can sometimes have a good fit in one of the red suits.”