November 2022 - 53

Newer Players
Startup Bridge
BY LYNN BERG
lynn7ntxx@icloud.com
M
ost of us use doubles fairly
frequently: Takeout doubles,
negative doubles, support
doubles, stolen bid doubles are
all popular these days. But that card
in the bidding box with " XX " isn't
so often used, nor have many bridge
players thought about how to use it.
Redouble can be a useful tool, too -
used with forethought, partnership
agreement and care.
Say partner has opened the bidding
and the next hand has made a takeout
double: 1k-Dbl-? The most popular
use of redouble is to tell partner you
have points, 10 or more HCP, but no
more than two of partner's suit.
J 9 6 4 k8 lA Q J 9 'K J 4 3
You expect partner to pass more often
than not, regardless of what your
LHO does. Occasionally partner will
bid again, warning you that he has
an unusual, shapely or very strong
hand (or both) that wasn't completely
described by the opening bid. Partner
might have a hand like:
- kA K J 10 7 4 3 lK 6 'A 10 9 8.
This hand has more hearts and
more points than you could expect.
But with a more typical opening like:
9 7 kA K J 8 5 lQ 6 5 'Q 7 5,
partner would pass, leaving the next
step in the auction up to you.
Runouts
What if your partner has opened
1NT and your RHO has doubled?
Now redouble has a very specific and
unusual use: 1NT-Dbl-Redbl.
This particular redouble asks partner
to bid 2'. You will either pass or
bid 2l. This is a rare opportunity to
play a minor suit at the two level after
Redoubles: A seldom-used tool
partner has opened 1NT. You have a
hand like:
9 6 kJ 3 2 lK 9 7 6 4 3 '8 7
SOS redoubles
Redouble usually means that you
want out! You're asking partner to
choose another suit. You open 1'
with:
Q 8 6 kA 4 3 2 l8 7 5 'A Q 9.
The next hand doubles, your partner
passes, and so does the doubler's
partner. 1'-Dbl-Pass-Pass-?
Now you redouble. You know two
things about this hand: Your partner
has fewer than 6 HCP and your
RHO has a lot of clubs. This redouble
is called an SOS bid; you are asking
partner to choose any other suit and
get you out of this doubled bid. Say
partner has:
9 7 3 kQ 7 6 5 l9 6 4 3 '8 2.
He just bids 1k - or even 1l. That
is unlikely to be doubled. Even if it
is doubled, you have a better fit and
won't go set quite as many.
While I advocate a redouble with
points and no fit when partner has
opened in a major, I do not advise
redoubling when partner has started
with 1' or 1l. Instead, just ignore
the double and make your natural
reply to partner's opening bid. Say
you hold:
K 7 kQ 7 6 5 2 lA J 6 4 '7 2.
Your reply of 1k shows at least four
hearts and at least 6 HCP, just like
always. If the opponents have a spade
fit, they may well find it over your
1k bid just as easily as they would
if you had redoubled, but 1k better
positions your side to find a potential
heart fit.
Redouble should not be used when
you are happy with the contract
which has been doubled. Show any
glee when you redouble, and the opponents
will scamper away. Just pass
quietly.
West hands for the
November Bidding Box
Bid these hands with a partner. The East
hands are on page 54. The North-South
players are silent unless otherwise
noted. Scores on page 42-45.
Problem 1. North deals. None vul.
A Q 9 k5 4 l10 8 'A Q 10 8 7 5
Problem 2. East deals. N-S vul.
10 kK 8 6 5 3 lK J 10 7 'A 6 4
Problem 3. South deals. E-W vul.
J 5 k9 6 3 2 l6 'A K Q J 4 3
Problem 4. West deals. Both vul.
A K 8 6 kJ 7 6 lQ J 9 'Q 9 8
Problem 5. North deals. N-S vul.
North opens 1NT (15-17); South bids
2k (spade transfer). If 2k is doubled,
then Pass-Pass-2.
K J kA K J 10 3 lK Q J 7 'J 5
Problem 6. East deals. E-W vul.
7 kA 6 5 kK Q J 10 'A Q 9 7 6
Problem 7. South deals. Both vul.
South opens 2.
A J 3 kA J 4 lK 'A J 9 6 4 2
Problem 8. West deals. None vul.
A 8 7 k6 4 2 lA J 4 'A K 6 3
November 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
53
November 2022

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