[firmit]

This happened monday-night. The bidding sequence:

(1♠)-p-(p)-X
(XX)-p!

Partner passed openers redouble. I have a natural T/O but no suit to bid planning to pass this one out given that I expect partner to sit with a close openinghand and/or good spades Is this the natural assumption?

[pclayton]

You can play the responder's pass of the xx as penalty of spades (I think Mike would) but I think it usually means that responder has nothing better to say.

Coming back to the doubler, 1N is natural and shows 16-17.

The doubler quadoubles (the orange card in your box) without a 4 card suit and 2 of a new suit promises 5.

[han]

Most play this pass as no preference.

[TylerE]

No. The usual assumption is that partner is balanced and broke, asking you to pick a decent spot. Sitting for a XX at the 1 level does not exist on this auction.

It's only penalty on an auction like:

1♠ - p - p - X
p - p(Penalty) - XX - p
p - p

[jdonn]

I disagree very strongly with the posts so far. I think it is standard (as well as clearly best) to play the pass is for penalties. I admit that a lot of players, including almost all BI, won't know that.

[neilkaz]

For me, redoubling the balancing X when PD cannot respond to 1M shows significant extras. Thus I don't play this sequence as a penalty pass, and the pass simply says that I have no more than at best a few points and the balancer is free to choose his best suit.

[dicklont]

The redouble is not yet back to opener. Has anyone asked about the agreements on XX? Is RHO going to bid something?

The situation reminds me of a hilarious hand in the Bermuda Bowl.
Dutchman Drijver opens a weak 2♦ and Norwegian Helness doubles in direct seat. This is a good double off course, singleton diamonds, good values. Brink, the other Dutchman, has no diamonds at all and a weak hand. So he knows that Helgemo is waiting with 6 diamonds a pleasant pass. This will be expensive. Semi-finals Bermuda Bowl, what are you going to do?

Brink redoubles!
He has studied the Norwegian system and found out that Helgemo's pass over a redouble shows short diamonds and spread values in the other colours. Helgemo now decides to bid 2♠, having three of them, and the Dutch are off the hook!

Know their system!

[barmar]

neilkaz, on Oct 31 2007, 11:15 PM, said:

For me, redoubling the balancing X when PD cannot respond to 1M shows significant extras. Thus I don't play this sequence as a penalty pass, and the pass simply says that I have no more than at best a few points and the balancer is free to choose his best suit.

Doesn't that make a psychic redouble almost risk-free? If LHO had a hand that was considering converting the double to penalty, the redouble takes this opportunity away from him.

[whereagles]

Since spades are over the opener, there's a good case to play this as PEN.

[hotShot]

This pass has to be penalty. The reopening dbl asks partner to pick the part score contract. So his pass is obviously his choice. This is not unreasonable since he would have to pass, holding e.g. 5♠s and opening strength.

[neilkaz]

barmar, on Nov 1 2007, 11:39 AM, said:

neilkaz, on Oct 31 2007, 11:15 PM, said:

For me, redoubling the balancing X when PD cannot respond to 1M shows significant extras. Thus I don't play this sequence as a penalty pass, and the pass simply says that I have no more than at best a few points and the balancer is free to choose his best suit.

Doesn't that make a psychic redouble almost risk-free? If LHO had a hand that was considering converting the double to penalty, the redouble takes this opportunity away from him.

Your point is very valid and I am, after reading it and those of the other talent here, coming around to the viewpoint that passing should be penalty on this specific auction.

[skjaeran]

This position is very different from 1♠ x xx where it's standard (but not universal) that pass just show no preference.

I'm playing pass in the OP auction as penalties.

[pclayton]

Psyching a redouble looks like a great idea in a BAM or MP event. Why automatically take a bath in 1♠ when you are looking at Jxxxx?

[y66]

Bridge World Standard (2001) http://www.bridgeworld.com/default.asp?d=b...d&f=bwsall.html

Passes over redoubles: A pass over a redouble is

a. for penalty when a preemptive opening is doubled in either position, a suit one-bid is doubled in reopening position, a bid at the two level or higher is doubled after the opponents have bid three or more times;

b. for takeout when a suit one-bid is doubled in direct position or a new-suit response is doubled;

c. subject to no special agreement when a raise of a one-bid, or a one-notrump response, or a one-level bid after the opponents have bid three or more times is doubled.

The Complete Book On Takeout Doubles by Mike Lawrence (1994)

When the opponents redouble, when is a pass for penalty? ... Is there a way to know what to do?

The answer is yes. It requires an understanding. Judgment won't see you through this problem. Here is one possible agreement for you to have. There are others, but this one is fine.

If the bidding is at the two level or higher, passing a redouble says you want to defend.

If the bidding is at the one level, passing a redouble is for penalty if you are OVER the person who bid their suit.

[Gerben42]

We had this one yesterday:

1♠ X 1N P
2♠ X XX P!

Using Lawrence's rule we were glad we were on the same wavelength...

[ArcLight]

What does ReDouble mean?
If you open the bidding, and pard can't bid, then ReDouble shows what?
A very good hand, thats below 2♣?
Maybe 18-19 points without extra length?
Semi balanced?

Is it worth making this bid? Might not pard raise if you pass and LHO bids?
And if he passes for penalty its better not to be redoubled.

If you redouble, you end up in a 4-3 fit at the 2 level?