The Penalty Redouble

[gurgistan]

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s865432hkdkjt982c]133|100|Scoring: IMP

We are playing 2/1.

 

Partner opens the bidding with 1♥. East overcalls with 2♣. I stretch to 2♠. West goes to 5♣. Partner doubles. East redoubles. I bail out in 5♦. West doubles. Partner goes to 5♠. East doubles and it is passed out.

 

When Partner is redoubled I fear that my 2♠ bid has misled him. You don't see many penalty redoubles and I think it is best to run to 5♦, which even if doubled will cost us less than 5♣ redoubled.

 

What do you make of my 2♠ bid?

 

What do you make of my running to 5♦ and the reasoning for it?[/hv]

[CSGibson]

I probably wouldn't have made the same decisions you did on this hand, but I'm not going to fault you for the decisions you made, either. I would probably start out with a negative X, risking partner's penalty pass. I'd like to be able to excercise some table feel as to what to do over XX. Did either opponent have a BIT before their bid? Do I know the opponents & their likely tactics? What level of players are they generally? All might influence my actions.

[JLOGIC]

I would have bid 5D over the double regardless of the redouble. You are not in a force, so partner's double simply shows a good hand. With KQJx of clubs partner has to pass 5C.

 

Partner cannot pass with any good hands that don't have massive club wastage, since we might pass it out and he is happy whether we bid or pass. He can't bid 5x that often by himself either, so his double is covering a wide range of hands. It does not cover lots of club values and a bad hand for offense though.

 

We might be one bad lead away from a double make (I would lead the HK). We also might just be cold for 6D. We also might just go down 1 in 5D with them cold.

 

Also, if the opps are not horrible they have bid 5C red/white when we have shown strength, I believe them. I certainly believe them after the redouble though!

 

I expect to make 5D most of the time. 5S I'm not nearly as excited about but who knows. I'm not excited about defending 2C.

 

I also think 2S is automatic, what else can you do? Sucks to be light on HCP but youre 6-6.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

5D is ok, you know, that p wont expect this hand, 2S (assuming forcing),

promised p some defence, you dont have defence, you have shape.

Bidding 2S is ok, but I usually play 2S NF, but given the 6-6, ... the playing

strength is there.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[JLOGIC]

BTW even if you were in a force and partner doubled, it wouldn't show good clubs it would show a bad hand for you bidding on. This is often based on... a stiff spade! A stiff spade is awesome for our hand when we're playing in diamonds, we make slam opposite nothing. It also sucks for our defense since they have all the spade values to go with their clubs! If someone had a diamond void also, well that's a disaster.

 

Just never defend 5C in this situation imo, regardless of doubles or redoubles.

[hanp]

I think 2S and 5D are both automatic. With 6-6 shape, strain to show both suits.

[gurgistan]

Would it be standard to run from a redouble or should one trust partner?

 

In the hand provided, it seems correct to run as I may have misled partner with my 2♠ but what as general rule?

[Codo]

You should never run if you already described your hand accurately to partner.

 

In the given hand, you did not show your hand completely to partner, so you are allowed to use your judgement an run.

[helene_t]

Would it be standard to run from a redouble or should one trust partner?

 

In the hand provided, it seems correct to run as I may have misled partner with my 2♠ but what as general rule?

As Justin says this isn't a penalty double so it's not like you are supposed to "trust partner". Partner is trusting you to make the right decision.

 

Anyway, I wouldn't let the redouble influence my decision.

[bucky]

Would it be standard to run from a redouble or should one trust partner?

 

In the hand provided, it seems correct to run as I may have misled partner with my 2♠ but what as general rule?

The main points are:

 

1) Partner's X isn't penalty. It shows extra value and that it is our hand.

2) Your 6-6 shape is the reason why you stretched to bid 2S to begin with. Better carry on with 5D to complete the picture.

3) This is just another way to reiterate point (2): even if partner's X is penalty (which shouldn't be), I think pulling to 5D is the percentage action.

[ggwhiz]

I agree with all the above sentiments.

 

If you gave this hand and auction as a lead problem against 5♣ doubled, re-doubled or passed I would say "Whaddya mean LEAD? I'm still bidding."

[Finch]

Would it be standard to run from a redouble or should one trust partner?

 

In the hand provided, it seems correct to run as I may have misled partner with my 2♠ but what as general rule?

You should not let a redouble influence your choice of call. If you were going to pass partner's penalty double, you pass when it is redoubled. If you were going to pull, you pull. That's what we mean by trusting partner rather than opponents.

 

The only exception is when you already know you are in serious trouble. Sometimes you might be about to pass a double knowing it will probably make, but thinking it cheaper than the alternative; a redouble then could change your mind (e.g. partner doubles a 4S opening for take-out and you have balanced rubbish; you might well pass and hope for the best if third hand passes, but run if they redouble)

[benlessard]

I prefer to start with a neg X. Bidding 4S later will show my shape.