Andrew:

Redouble

We have noted that the general principle for the responder to the opener is to ignore right-hand opponent’s take-out double. He does, however, have an extra option. Redouble. This is a rarely used call - for a start you can only use it when an opponent has doubled.

Redouble is an expression of confidence, and the most common situation is the redouble of a take-out double of partner’s opening bid. One-of-a-Suit - (Double) - Redouble shows a hand with 10+ points (giving the partnership the balance of the points) and, typically, no good suit (prefer to bid it) or support for partner (prefer to support).

Examples of 1 ♣ - (Double) - Redouble:

Hand i)

Hand ii)

Hand iii)

Hand iv)

♠ Q J 9 7

♥ Q 8 7 3

♦ A J 10

♣ 6 4

♠ 10 9 5 2

♥ K 4 2

♦ K 10 8 5

♣ A 4

♠ K J 4 2

♥ A J 9

♦ A 8 6 3 2

♣ 2

♠ A J 9

♥ 9 8 6 2

♦ Q J 9

♣ K 3 2

That expression of confidence can enable the opening side to penalise the take-out doubling side - the real point of the redouble.

Take this deal. Take the West cards and defend

West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q 8
♥	Q 10 8 2
♦	K Q 10 8
♣	7 3

♠	7 6
♥	K 7 4 3
♦	5 3
♣	A K J 9 6

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 4 2
♥	A J 9
♦	A 7 6 4
♣	4 2

♠	10 9 5 3
♥	6 5
♦	J 9 2
♣	Q 10 8 5

West	North	East	South
1 ♣	Dbl	Rdbl1	1 ♠2
Pass	Pass	Dbl3	Pass
Pass	Pass

10+ points, no good suit or fit for partner.
Thus looking for a juicy penalty...
Redouble counts as a bid, so South can pass
the bidding round to partner. Generally a five-
card minor or four-card major should be
volunteered, however, so South cannot be
faulted.
For penalties - “I think they’re going down”.

1 ♠× by South

Lead: ♠ 6

West led a trump (best - when partner has doubled a partscore), to dummy’s eight and East’s jack. A club to the ten and West’s jack was followed by a second trump to the queen and king. East led a third trump to dummy’s ace and won the king of diamonds with his ace. A second club enabled West to win declarer’s eight with the nine and lead out the ace-king- six, East throwing all his diamonds.

Declarer trumped the fifth club and tried to cash a diamond. But East trumped, led the nine of hearts to West’s king, and took the last two tricks with ace-jack of hearts over dummy’s queen-ten.

Down five and North-South +1400 points - an extreme example to illustrate the purpose of the redouble.

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Andrew:

Redouble