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.
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.