ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Say you pick up ; J-9-8-6-4-3, k A-Q-10-4, l 6, ' 9-2 first in hand at favorable vulnerability. Would you open a weak two spades?

— Flame On, St. Paul, Minn.

DEAR READER: I tend not to pre-empt with length in a major suit on the side. Especially when partner is unlimited, opening before he does may lose a profitable fit. If the major-suit honors were exchanged, such that the hearts were very weak, I would open two spades because the hand becomes all about spades. As it is, even in third seat, I’m not sure opening is correct.

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

What does it mean if you open one club, partner responds one heart and you jump to three diamonds? There has been some debate at my club. — On the Fence, Doylestown, Pa.

DEAR READER: You have a two-diamond reverse available, which shows extras and is forcing for one round. Therefore, three diamonds is not needed as a natural call. For many partnerships, it is a splinter raise, agreeing hearts as trump with short diamonds. A good general principle is that an unnecessary jump in a new suit is a splinter. You could also (by agreement) play it as six clubs and three hearts, game forcing.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner opened three spades in third chair at unfavorable with: ; A-K-J-8-5-3-2, k 7-6,

l K-10-8, ' 6, and I failed to raise with the spade queen, diamond queen-jack and an outside ace, so we missed game. What went wrong?

— Fully Loaded, Bristol, Va.

DEAR READER: The hands certainly did fit well, but still, you should have reached game. I would not pre-empt with your partner’s collection, even opposite a passed hand. Ace-king-king and a seven-card suit is simply too much — that hand needs very little for game to be good. Of course, if his call is within your partnership style, you probably had a raise.

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

How often do you overcall on four-card suits?

— Major Maverick, Little Rock, Ark.

DEAR READER: Rarely at the one-level, and never at any higher levels. To overcall on a four-card suit requires an excellent holding, such as king-queen-jack-low, in order to direct the lead, or a good holding in a fair hand that does not otherwise have a bid, for example: ; A-Q-10-9, k 4,

l K-Q-5-2, ' A-10-9-2. Over a one-diamond opening, I think one spade is a good call since you cannot double with short hearts. Passing and doubling on the next round after they bid hearts is also an option.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My new bridge partner and I are deciding which conventions to adopt. We play a simple system with five-card majors and strong no-trump. What would you advise? — Shunting System, Eau Claire, Wis.

DEAR READER: I think some form of Blackwood, fourth suit forcing, Stayman with transfers over a notrump, and takeout and negative doubles are all necessary. Beyond that, there really is not much you need for a casual partnership.