ACES ON BRIDGE
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Which bridge websites would you say are best for online play? — The Big Game, Casper, Wyo.
DEAR READER: Bridge Base Online is free, though there are some events with an entry fee. They also grant free access to Bridge Master deals, a real bonus, and many other features besides. Bridge Club Live and Real Bridge have their own unique benefits, the latter allowing for a face-to-face style via the use of cameras and sound equipment.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Some of my bridge friends play Bergen raises. What are they, and are they a good idea?
— Jump Ship, Calgary, Alberta DEAR READER: Bergen raises use a single jump in a minor in response to partner’s major-suit opening as a raise of some sort. Depending on your preferences, you can show a mixed raise (6-9 with four-card support), a pre-emptive four-card raise, and a limit raise with four trumps (or even a three-card limit raise if you prefer to modify the responses). With Bergen raises, the key is to define trump support and range precisely. I can take them or leave them.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Say you hold ♠ A-Q-8-6-3, ♥ K, ♦ J-9, ♣ A-Q-J-7-4 at unfavorable colors. You open one spade, and your left-hand opponent overcalls three hearts, weak, passed back to you. What would you do?
— Put to It, San Luis Obispo, Calif. DEAR READER: I would double. When in doubt, make the call with the biggest upside. Here, that is partner converting the double for penalty. It could be right to pass out three hearts if partner has diamond length. Similarly, a call of four clubs could work well if partner has support there. However, the double can still get you to the right spot in these scenarios. Three spades may be the best contract for your side if partner has a weak hand with three-card support.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Online cheating seems to be rife. What can we do about it? — Concerned Citizen,
Huntington, W.Va. DEAR READER: We must not overreact and start hurling accusations just because a player took an odd but successful action. Even the most solid player takes the occasional punt. To drag their name through the muck when they are innocent would damage both the accused and the accuser. The best way to clean up the game is to report anything suspicious to the organization running the tournament.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner has asked to me to consider playing action doubles. What are they?
— Rebound, Spartanburg, S.C. DEAR READER: When a player makes a pre-emptive bid, either an opening or an overcall, he is not supposed to act again without being invited by partner. But occasionally when partner raises (or rarely when the opponents overcall in your shortage, even when partner is silent), you can double as the preempting player at your next turn. This tells your partner that you have some real extra shape. You are saying that you want partner to bid unless he has trump tricks on defense.