ACES ON BRIDGE
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I understand that opener’s jump shift at his second turn is forcing to game. Is there a way for responder to hit the brakes after this start to a sequence? — Trapper John, Atlantic City, N.J. DEAR READER: Some people use the same basic idea that they employ over a reverse, a call that is forcing for one round but not to game. They play that responder’s only weak action is the cheaper of fourth suit and two no-trump. So after opener opens one club and jumps to two spades over a one-diamond response, responder’s two no-trump call is artificial and weak. Over opener’s jump to two hearts, a call of two spades would similarly be weak.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: In a recent column, you described dealing and picking up a hand of K-J-9-8-3, A-9, J-6, Q-7-4-2. Passing worked well with this hand, but I must admit I would have opened the bidding with one spade. What are the precise criteria for bidding or passing here?
— Fishhooks, Miami DEAR READER: This hand is a marginal opening bid. While opening would not be out of line, the possibly awkward rebid over a response of two diamonds or two hearts argues against bidding. With a side suit of hearts or even possibly diamonds, the rebid problem looks less awkward. Non-vulnerable at pairs, I might open, but I would surely pass if vulnerable.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Please discuss how modern experts use a jump to five no-trump these days. Has the grand slam force gone the way of the landline telephone? — Old-fashioned, Newport News, Va. DEAR READER: The use of Key-card Blackwood among many experts has led many top players to use the call of five no-trump as a maneuver to try to find the right strain, a “choice-of-slam” request. This helps the partnership identify strong or long suits when there is some ambiguity about the best fit.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Is there a role for asking bids, as opposed to cue-bids, these days? — Filet Mignon,
Washington DEAR READER: Asking bids fit well into a strong club base, but (with the exception of some Danish experts) top players tend to use a cue-bidding style instead. The closest thing to asking bids in common usage might be fourthsuit calls to look for a stopper, not a control.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: When you play two-over-one and a semi-forcing no-trump with A-K-7-3, K-J-4-32, Q-6-4, 9, you would open one heart, I assume. But if you hear a one-no-trump response, do you pass or rebid two diamonds, two hearts or two spades?
— Blinky Bill, Selma, Ala. DEAR READER: Clearly, a two-spade rebid is out; that shows at least an ace more than your current hand. Rebidding two hearts with a weak suit is unattractive, so the choice is to pass (which I would do if the diamond four were the club four) or bid two diamonds, which suggests but does not guarantee four. I prefer to bid two diamonds, but on the actual hand I’d be more likely to pass if my partner were a passed hand, since I won’t be facing a limit raise in hearts. And since a response of two clubs would be artificial (Drury), that means he is more likely to have length in clubs than in any other suit.
If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at bobbywolff@mindspring.com