SOS RDBL after a weak 2

[jmc]

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=s9754hdaq1074cq964]133|100|Scoring: IMP

2H-P-P-DBL-P-P[/hv]

 

Assuming rdbl is SOS. Should South rdbl?

 

jmc

[helene_t]

rdbl could lead to an improvement if we can find a 5-3 ♦ fit. Otherwise it's likely to make things worse. Imagine opener bidding 3♣ with his 2623 .....

 

I would pass, unless the partnership style is to preempt freely on 5-cards under these conditions.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

No, ... but I hate SOS and I play a weak two style

which will lead to at most 500-800, so no need to run.

If you play the contract 1 level higher you have to make

two more tricks, and I dont believe that.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[the hog]

I guess this depends on whome you are playing against. If you are playing against strong opposition, then the chances are that they are right to pass the penalty x, so I would xx. If I was playing against players like bid_em_up for example, I would pass the double.

[ArtK78]

At matchpoints, if the double is SOS, then yes - do it here. Odds are that your opponents know what they are doing when they pass out 2Hx. There may not be a better place to play, but it is likely that there is no worse place to play. You probably have a very poor score already, and you are not likely to make it much worse but you could make it better.

 

At IMPs, which is how you posed the problem, this is a much tougher problem. You are in trouble, but running could turn a bad score (which might be duplicated at the other table) into a disaster of epic proportions. You have to know your partner's preempting style and how aggressive your opponents are in low level doubles. Against good opps, who would not risk doubling you into game if they didn't have you dead to rights, you probably should run. If your partner's preempting style is very aggressive, especially with a 2-suited hand, you should run.

[neilkaz]

Against decent opps you are dead in the water here. I run all day long opposite the reasonably aggressive stuff PD and me open 2♥ with White in first seat.

 

Decent opps aren't passing with trumps 4-3 when PD has AKQJxx ! More likely PD has KJ9xxx and an outside honor and we are shattered in 2♥x.

 

I'll admit that I haven't seen much discussion on runout methods here. I'll see if "Preempts from A-Z" has any and then, later when I have time try to discuss method to find the best escape here, even if it is 2♠, and to maximize chances to end up in what would almost certainly be a superior 3♦ 5-2 fit than a 4-3 ♣ fit.

 

.. neilkaz ..

[bid_em_up]

I guess this depends on whome you are playing against. If you are playing against strong opposition, then the chances are that they are right to pass the penalty x, so I would xx. If I was playing against players like bid_em_up for example, I would pass the double.

I hope you do leave it in. I'm more than happy to be +500 or more.

 

But on the other hand, if the_hog was my partner (which is never going to happen), I would run like the wind.

[pclayton]

Yes I run with a xx. Hearts are probably splitting 5-1, and we rate to do better in another strain.

[cherdano]

When this occurred at the table, the colors were red vs white, and I thought a pass is clear. (Edit: Just rechecked, no, it was all white as Jonathan posted.)

Let's say partner removes to 2♠ with Qxx, and spades break 4-2 (as is likely) - ♦A might be our only trick playing in spades, whereas partner will always scramble a few trump tricks playing in hearts.

[Guest Jlall]

I think people panic and run way too much in this situation.

[jdonn]

I would never run here without at least 5-5 and decent suits. I am less likely to run vs good players not more likely, partly because they have better judgment about nailing me if I run (some bad players continue to double on momentum), and partly since good players probably make this penalty pass more often than bad players, not less often.

[neilkaz]

Yes I run with a xx. Hearts are probably splitting 5-1, and we rate to do better in another strain.

Considering opener has only 6♥ (and 5 on a real bad day, but at least a few honors if 5) trumps may split 6-1 or 5-2.

 

I am running with my void but would likely sit with a stiff.

 

This is like that old chi-chi or die joke they got us, and I'll take my chances that death is not death by chi-chi.

 

.. neilkaz ..

[Double !]

IMO, part of the recommendation depends upon what kind of weak 2 bids you are playing, i.e. disciplined vs. undisciplined. If playing disciplined weak 2 bids, then I think you need a good reason to run (not just a void, but a good alternative suit). Partner's hand is likely to be of minimal value to you in another suit.

If playing undisciplined weak 2 bids, then the hand became a turkey shoot the second you opened your mouth as partner now doesn't have a clue r.e. what your hand looks like other than containing (assume) a 6-card suit. Regardless, after bidding weak 2, partner has 7 unknown cards and would be lucky to have a 3 or 4-card suit to fit for one of your suits. And savvy opps would be leading trumps. Good luck! You might be jumping from the frying pan into the fire but sending the double back, sos XX.

(Sometimes pressure bidding blows up in your face. C'est la vie.)

 

DHL

[goodwintr]

Is there any reason to suppose that this exact auction won't be occurring at the other table? Imagine that it does, and that your counterpart does choose to run via redouble. If you decide to shoot it out in two hearts doubled, do you really, honestly, think you will be in a losing position? I don't. I expect to go down a ton in two hearts, but would expect to go down more than a ton in three of whichever minor suit redoubling would land us in.

 

Jlall is correct, people tend to be overactive in these situations. Teammates are there, too, and two hearts doubled might be an entirely "normal" contract, the "least worst" we can do if the opponents will not allow us to retract our opening bid.