The Redouble

RESPONSES AFTER OPPONENT’S INTERFERENCE

-THE REDOUBLE

 When right-hand opponent (opp) doubles your partner’s opening bid, no bidding room is taken up.  It would seem that you could make the same call you would make without the double.

 

Actually, the auction has become competitive, so your “priority” has changed!!!!

 

Since the Takeout Doubler HAS SHOWN OPENING POINTS (counting high card points plus DUMMY POINTS – voids, singleton or doubleton in opener’s bid suit) there is less chance your partnership is heading for Game.  The focus shifts to trying to find the correct place to play or keeping the OPP’S from reaching their best contract or doubling them for penalty depending on how high they get, what you have in your hand, etc. etc.

 

A new call is available to RESPONDER (YOU) -called ” THE REDOUBLE”

 

By Using THE REDOUBLE – YOU, THE RESPONDER, ARE TELLING OPENER:

 

WE HAVE THE BALANCE OF POWER BECAUSE YOU HAVE 12 + and I have  10+puts!

The redouble shows a variety of hands.  You might have a balanced hand, a long suit or support for one of opener’s suits

 

As a guideline (not a fast rule) opener usually passes the redouble, waiting to see which type of hand responder holds.

 

Because the “redouble ”shows 10+pts , this opens the door and RESPONDER can now:

—  bid with weaker hands!

 

– make the same response that would have been made, without the double, with 6-10 points

 

Example:

N (P) – 1 spade

E doubles

S bids 2 spades

Showing the usual minimum response

If “NOT VULNERABLE”—-USE THE LAW OF TOTAL TRICKS — if you have 9 trump between you and opener, you can bid as high as 3 level – got 10 trump go to four level, etc. these are showing “weak hands -less than 10 points)

EXAMPLE:

Partner 1 S

OPP X

You – 3 S — this is not a Limit raise it is weak but showing 4 spades only

 

BECAUSE WE WILL ALWAYS REDOUBLE WITH MORE THAN TEN POINTS, IF WE DO ANYTHING ELSE IT SHOWS LESS THAN TEN POINTS!!!!!

 

WITH 5 card support for partner’s major JUMP TO THE 4 LEVEL OVER THE DOUBLE

– weak bid -less than 10 points

 

I Repeat – WITH 5 card support, JUMP TO GAME IN MAJOR

WEAK BID – 5 card trump support less than 10 points

NEW To do OVER THE OPP’S DOUBLE:

 

Bid a NEW SUIT AT THE TWO LEVEL WITH LESS THAN 10 points – must be 5+ card suit

 

A jump of a new suit over the OPP’S double shows a 6+card suit and is weak! Opener must use discretion

 

After partner opens a major and opp’s double – and you have 3 card support and 11-12 point, you can not use a jump to 3 in partner’s major to show 11-12 points so a bid of 2NT shows invitation to game in partner’s major –

 

It’s always fun to add new tools to your skill set.  Happy bridging!