Question: West Redouble simply means West has more than 10 points or does it mean more than that?
Mark:
A redouble means one of two things, depending on the
situation. It either says "The opponents are in trouble, we should not let
them off the hook unless it's clear they have made a safe escape or we
have a definite lucrative contract of our own." In a different situation,
it means "We are in trouble, an escape is mandatory." These are
completely opposite messages, so partners need to discuss and make sure they
know which is which.
In the present case, the redouble after partner opens
1 of a suit the redouble shows 10 or more points. There should be no exception
to that. All doubles by the opening and redoubling hands from that point on are
for penalty. Each partner should double with the suit bid and should pass, to
allow partner to double with some value in the bid suit, even 4 little cards.
This assumes that partner has a bid coming. If neither of you has a hand where
a double looks good, the opponents have probably escaped safely. Since Your
side has the majority of points and a very probable fit of your own, you need
to bid on. Now, assume that the opening bid was 1NT and the next hand doubles.
This is an S.O.S. redouble, demanding that the NT opener must bid the cheapest
4 card suit and you go up the line as needed until a fit of at least 7 cards.
If your partner opens 1NT, you have 7 or more points and the next player
doubles, they are probably about to be in trouble. If the final contract is 1NT
doubled, you'll make it, probably with an overtrick, maybe more. That should be
a great score most of the time. You don't need to improve it.
So here's the bottom line: If the opponent's double
shows strength and may be penalty oriented, then redouble says RUN!
If one opponent makes a takeout double before the
other one has shown anything, redouble says "Don't let them off the hook.
We have the strength."
On the actual hand, the takeout double is unlucky to
catch partner nearly broke and the opponents knowing they have you caught.
Because of the flat distribution, I would not make the double for fear of just
what happened. That doesn't mean the double is wrong, but it's risky. If you
pass, you may get another chance to bid if the hand belongs to your side. In
this case, W would bid 1 heart, E will say 1NT. Some Wests might get greedy and
hope for game and bid an invitational 2NT. Almost all roads lead to E-W taking
exactly 7 tricks at NT. Pulling North's 1 spade doubled to 1NT, which will
surely get doubled, is normally a big mistake. Partner could well have 5 spades
and you normally go down more at NT than spades. In this case, because of a
likely defensive cross- ruff, 1 spade is likely to go minus 300 while 1NT is
lucky to be down only 1. -100 is no bargain. Other N-S pairs will be -90
or + 50, both of which beat -100. The redouble did exactly what it was
meant to do. When you have that W hand in this auction, you can be almost sure
of a nice result. Well- done E-W. Unlucky, but somewhat deserved by South.
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