Redouble!

	A J 3 2
	A K Q 9 5
	J 5 3
	3
Q 10 9 4		7 6
J 8 7 3 2		10
A 10 9		8 6 2
8		A K Q 10 9 6 4
	K 8 5
	6 4
	K Q 7 4
	J 7 5 2	Vul: E-W

West	North	East	South
Pass	1	2	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	Pass
Rdbl	All	pass

This is from the Tannah Hirsch, Omar Sharif column, and I'm presuming they were referring to top players, here. This was played at two tables. At one, the contract was 3 no, making for 400 points. I have given the bidding at the other, where the final score was also 400 in the same direction on down one, doubled, redoubled and vulnerable. And the evidently S.O.S. redouble was as ill-advised as those I've picked up on OKbridge.

There are a lot of different things that can happen when a partner is doubled, a couple of them very beneficial. He might make. It certainly has been known to happen. He might go down, but not as much as the opponents can make if they'd address their potential. Of course, it might be that your partner has gotten you into hot water, and there's nothing you can do about it. And lastly, it might be that your partner has gotten you into hot water and you can save him.

A one-out-of-four shot. Well, that's not to be taken too literally. The existence of four possibilities doesn't mean you'll see each 25% of the time. It could easily mean that you see the first three about 31% of the time and the fourth about 7%. Still, the first two possibilities should make one very cautious about saving a partner who may very well not need to be saved. Here it is evident that the second of those 4 possibilities would have prevailed if West had simply let his partner take his chances. Down one doubled when those guys have a game, albeit a lucky one (needing 3-3 diamonds and an onsides Q of spades). If we add to that the value of keeping a happy partner and reflecting that he will remember the times your attempt to save only got you into hotter water far longer than he'll remember a successful save -- which will probably be viewed as just common sense -- you'll want to give serious consideration to letting your partner be.

Here, their teammates had a 400-point game. Down one doubled and vulnerable would have given them a pretty good board. To be sure, it wasn't a disaster. It was a push. Still the redouble meant points lost. Please remember one thing: There is not necessarily a better resting spot. If you think you're in trouble, a redouble is often, commonly, usually, I might say, not an answer to anything.