Bridge - The Scotsman 27/04/2012

The redouble is a little-used bid, which perhaps explains why so many players have not discussed what happens after it appears. Some partnerships have taken to using it in a conventional sense, showing support for partner, or as a rescue manoeuvre, but there are still situations in which it is used to show strength.

One is when a player makes a takeout double of partner’s opening bid. Typically the redouble shows near opening strength and no fit for partner, and suggests that this may be an opportunity to penalise an opponent caught in a misfit auction. On this deal from the Lady Milne Trophy, Fiona McQuaker showed her big hand with a redouble, not expecting it to end the auction.

What should North do over the redouble? When she holds the cheapest suit she should surely bid it, particularly spades at the one-level. The English North-South actually played in 1S doubled and made that contract. With no spade support, but length in both clubs and diamonds North might pass, then remove partner’s 1S to 2C to suggest two places to play. But the Northern Irish North chose to pass, leaving her partner to dig her own way out of the pit.

This was not a success. South thought the pass meant ‘happy to defend 1H redoubled’ and also passed. Yvonne Wiseman was not displeased with her dummy. The outcome was +1120 for game made with three overtricks.