Bridge - The Scotsman 14/11/2012

Here is another example of the aptly named SOS redouble. South makes a perfectly normal overcall. North is not keen on the idea of playing in spades, but with a weak hand he cannot take action yet – any call he makes is constructive, looking for the greatest possible plus score.

East reopens with a double, in case partner has a spade stack, and West passes.

It looks as though declarer will be lucky to make more than four tricks in 1S doubled. Fortunately, there are ways to rescue partner from such a situation. You can bid a long suit of your own, hoping that will be a better fit – the delayed change of suit indicates a weak hand. You can bid 1NT, to play if no-one doubles. If 1NT is doubled you can remove to 2C, the slow removal showing that you also have tolerance for diamonds; or you can redouble to show both minors, same length, or longer diamonds. Or you can make an immediate SOS redouble, leaving more options open, With a good overcall partner can pass; he might bid 1NT, to play, or as the first step in showing equal length in the minors; he can bid his longer minor; he might even decide that the best option was to play in East’s heart suit.

Here South bid 2C to show definite preference between the minors, and North-South found their 4-4 fit. It is not easy for East-West to penalise this contract, and neither has a very convincing double, so North-South had wriggled off the hook.