ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

What do you think about the merits of inverted minors?

— Back Flip, Staten Island, N.Y.

DEAR READER: It is important for responder to have a forcing raise available for all suits. The Jacoby two notrump works for a major, but most do not replicate the treatment for a minor since it takes up so much space. I think inverted raises, where raising partner’s one-of-a-minor to two is invitational or better, work well. A natural and limited raise is not so useful when partner’s minor could be short. You can sensibly combine inverted minors with pre-emptive jump raises.

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

Would you open a strong no-trump with ; K-Q , k A-K-J-3, l Q-2, ' J-10-9-4-3? — Notable No-trump, Laredo, Texas

DEAR READER: Yes, I think a no-trump is fine with so much in the short suits. If I had five hearts and four clubs, one heart would be preferable, so as to find my 5-3 major-suit fit. It is rare to have 5-4 shape and open one no-trump; as a general rule, try not to do it with five of a major, or indeed with five of a minor and four spades. These hands tend to be easy to bid out directly by bidding your suits.

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

How many points would you expect partner to have for a free response at the one-level — say, you open one club, lefty doubles and partner bids one heart?

— Honorarium, Panama City, Fla.

DEAR READER: Partner is not obliged to bid with a 6- or 7-count, especially one with a weak four-carder. He might still bid with a minimum and a five-card suit or a good four-card holding, but I doubt he would strain to bid one heart on anything like this: ; Q-4-2, k J-7-4-3,

l K-J-5, ' J-10-9. Of course, he cannot have much more than that to pass, with redouble available to advertise 9 or more and one no-trump showing a good 7-10 points.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partnership often raises partner’s one-of-a-major response to two with only three cards. How would you recommend we find out whether he has three or four when choosing whether to play in three notrump or the major game?

— Monstrous Moysians, Casper, Wyo.

DEAR READER: As opener, I, too, often raise with three. Some use a forcing two no-trump to let opener bid out their shape, repeating hearts to confirm four-card support or otherwise bidding naturally, implying only three.

Others use a method called spiral; see bridgewinners. com/article/view/relay-after-openers-raise-an-alternative-to-spiral/.

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

Would you open in fourth chair, holding ; J-9-8-7-3, k K-Q-2, l 10-9-2, ' A-J? — Thrown In, Norman, Okla.

DEAR READER: I would open one spade. Pearson points can be used here: You add the total of highcard points to the number of spades you have, and if that number is 15 or higher, open. Of course, this has to be taken with a grain of salt — I would pass with a poor 5=3=3=2 10-count, for example — but there is no doubting the importance of holding the boss suit when neither side is likely to have a game.