Hand Question 7
Redouble Example
Hi Bernard, This is a re-double example from last Wednesday on BBO. I was South and North was a BBO advanced robot playing American 2/1. The bidding was: East South West North P 1S X XX P P 2C X P P P The contract was 3 down for 500. NS can make 3NT, according to DD, but only have a combined 24 pts. Please comment on the bidding. East's pass of 1Sxx is understandable, but NS can make the contract. Regards, Geoff Woodcock P.S. Your hand submission form doesn't work correctly when you have to make corrections. Eventually I had to clear all the hands and start again.
Bernard's Answer
I used this hand on the Monday live, having forgotten to respond personally! I think 3NT is very lucky on these hands - a 4-2 diamond break and the game will go down, but with the diamonds 3-3 the game rolls in. Taking 500 on this hand deserves a good score. Playing IMPs it is of course a good score anyway - either gaining 350 against a partscore or losing 100 to a game - surely good odds. East's pass of 1S xx is good - the computer choses 2D which resulted in 4 off and 800 - note that his pass is not suggesting that 1Sxx will go down - it is simply saying that he has no preference for a suit. I think, as East, I would have bid 2D with the East hand over 2C which should show equal length in D & H, so that West eventually bids 2H. 2H doubled might escape for 2 off.