Aces on Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff:

My partner and I play that a three-level cue-bid in an opponent’s suit is a stopper ask. How should we proceed when this bid is doubled?

— Method Madness, Houston, Texas

Answer: In such auctions, most pairs play that a pass denies a stopper, in case partner has one and was just trying to get you to play the hand. Meanwhile, redouble shows a half- stop, something like jack-third or queendoubleton. Bid three no-trump with a full stop. An alternative is to use redouble as the ace, to try to right- side no-trump facing the queen.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Do you have any general rules describing when four notrump is Blackwood and when it is quantitative?

— Mix-Up, Panama City, Fla.

Answer: When no suit has been agreed as trump but there was an easy forcing way to set trump by raising the suit, a jump to four no-trump should generally be natural and invitational. It should be invitational when raising partner’s notrump. There are situations in which four no-trump is natural and discouraging as well, usually when partner bids something at the fourlevel over three no-trump. Otherwise, it tends to be Blackwood, of whatever variety you have agreed. he comes again with three hearts — or three diamonds, which suggests a reasonable hand and length or honors in diamonds — I will try three no-trump, relying on the clubs as a source of tricks.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I picked up this collection at favorable vulnerability in a teams match: ♠ 5, ♥ 10-5-4-3,

♦ Q-J-9-8-7-2, ♣ 3-2. Partner opened one club, and my right-hand opponent overcalled one spade. Would you act?

— Negative Sputnik, Hartford, Conn.

Answer: Some might double, showing hearts, but surely I do not have enough for that. Partner could have a big, balanced hand and keep bidding. Nor can I bid two diamonds with so little. I will pass and probably stay silent unless called on to compete at a low level. The meaning of a jump to three diamonds is open to discussion. This may not be good enough for a preemptive jump, even if that is the meaning you attach to the call.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Do you consider it obligatory to open all 12-point hands? If not, what criteria do you employ to determine whether or not to bid?

— Bean Counter, Grand Junction, Colo.