Redoubles

 

The two most common uses of the Redouble are (a) "I've got a good hand" and (b) "We are in a terrible spot, let's get out of here".  The latter is the so-called "SOS Redouble".

 

 

26th April, 2006                Board 20       Dealer West         Both Vul

 

 

Some players routinely Redouble with this type of hand, but we question the wisdom of that on this hand.  Sure, it passes the test of “10+ HCPs” … but, let’s face it, East has no plans to penalize 1♥ or 1♠, so why bother?  He should just bid 3NT directly over the Double, perfectly describing his hand … there’s no reason to mess around here with an irrelevant Redouble.

 

 

19th July, 2006                  Board 17      Dealer North      None Vul

 

 

Do you redouble or bid 2♣?  The Redouble shows 10+ HCPs, so this hand certainly qualifies, at least in that regard.  But it’s the wrong hand type, too much offense, not enough defense … better to get that 6-card Club suit into the auction.  We suggest that you save the Redouble for hands with less distribution ... but when you have a 5-card or 6-card suit, it's usually best to bid it.  By the way, that 2♣ bid is normally played as constructive but not forcing ... give that West hand another King, and we would have to Redouble, because we cannot risk getting passed out in 2♣.

 

 

11th October, 2006           Board 25      Dealer North       E-W Vul

 

 

Once, as South, we have passed Partner’s opening 1♠, we are entitled to like our hand a lot, for the bidding so far we are quite maximum.  Partner’s Redouble may not be perfectly defined, but it certainly shows extras, we’d assume about 16+ or something pretty close.  Therefore, when East bids 1NT we should be tempted to double with our “maximum”.  But, we don’t think the hand has quite enough stuff, so let’s assume that we are tempted in tempo and then we pass.  Next time it gets back to us, we see:

 

South     West   North   East

                         1♠        Pass

Pass      Dbl     Rdbl    1NT   

Pass      Pass   Dbl       Pass

??

 

Now, Partner has shown even more values, and it seems clear that our side has the balance of power.  We can also see that they are vulnerable, and we just love those +200 results on part-score hands.  So, yes, of course, we pass here, trying to keep the drooling to an absolute minimum.  But, it’s still not over:

 

South     West   North   East

                         1♠        Pass

Pass      Dbl     Rdbl    1NT   

Pass      Pass   Dbl       Pass

Pass      2♦       Pass     Pass

??

 

Yes, we must double, though we certainly shouldn’t be drooling, it’s not as if we have a very exciting trump holding.  Once in a while, this contract will make, but far more often it won’t and a top board will result.

 

 

8th November, 2006         Board 19      Dealer South       E-W Vul

 

 

Anyone for a Redouble?  Not us, it’s not quite strong enough, and, anyway, when we have a fit with Partner, there’s not much point in suggesting to Partner that we penalize the opponents.  Our choice is the simple and obvious 1♥, getting our best suit and a major into the auction.  Some players are under the misapprehension that this bid shows a 5-card suit, but it does not.  As a general rule, our bids at the one-level after a Take-out Double are not so different than they are without the Take-out Double.  The main difference is that with a marginal hand we are more likely to pass after the Double, not feeling obliged to keep the bidding open.

 

 

11th July, 2007                 Board 2       Dealer East       N-S Vul

 

 

What would a Redouble show here?  Values, of course, the real question is just how much.  We’d say that this hand just about qualifies, though it’s certainly minimum.  Redouble here says “We have more points than they do, unless you have made one of your infamous wafer-thin openings”.

 

Don’t like the Redouble?  We are iffy about it ourselves to be honest.  Another thought is to bid 2♣, and then to double a 2♦ or 2♥ bid.  This says “I have Club support, and a pretty good defensive hand, please feel free to make the winning call”.  A difficult hand!

 

 

8th August, 2007              Board 22      Dealer East       E-W Vul

 

 

It’s common for a Redouble to show 10 or more HCP’s and at least some interest in penalizing the opponents.  Well, we do have 10 HCP’s, but it does not look to us like a hand that should be suggesting that we penalize the opponents at a low level.  Most of our points are in Partner’s suit, and our other values are all slow.  This is surely a 1NT bid, typically showing 7-10 or 8-10.

 

 

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