ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: The law regarding dealing plainly states that cards will be dealt one at a time. Do you have any thoughts about back-and-forth dealing whereby 12 of the cards in two hands are dealt two at a time and the 13 in each of the other hands are dealt one at a time? I called a director about this at a regional tourney and was told it was all right. I dislike this, since many people do not shuffle “thoroughly” as that law states. — Given the Pip, Greenville, S.C. DEAR READER: I hate when people don’t deal in the regular fashion (some dealing in five piles, others doing the sort of thing you describe). That said, the lack of shuffling and irregular dealing are such small absurdities that I reserve my ire for the more serious infractions. I try to breathe deeply and let it pass over me.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: How would you advance at your third turn here? I held ♠ Q-6-4-3, ♥ A-Q-8-7-3,

♦ K-Q-3, ♣ A, opened one heart and heard a one-spade response. I elected to jump to four clubs (though, of course, a small singleton would have been preferable) over the one-spade call. My partner now bid four diamonds, and I was not sure whether to sign off, use Blackwood or cue-bid next. — Yellow Light, Ketchikan, Alaska DEAR READER: My view is that one more cuebid of four hearts is quite sufficient. If your partner signs off in four spades, you will surely have done enough, given your very weak trumps in context. If you had the spade jack, you might be able to take control, but as it is, I’d worry about the possibility of losing two trump tricks, unless partner can find a further call.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: There are plenty of people at my club who are less than proficient in the use of the bidding box, some because they have a physical disability, some because they reveal their lack of confidence in their actions. Does any penalty arise if you take a bid out of the bidding box and then put it back? Does it matter if the action was accidental, or if you changed your mind? — Shifting Sands, San Luis Obispo, Calif. DEAR READER: You can normally correct a call selected by accident even if it is put on the table. (This applies even after a call by your LHO, though he then gets to change his call, too.) In some cases, if you change your mind about a bid, you are allowed to correct it before the next call. However, this may pass unauthorized information to your partner, and there might be further consequences. It is always best to call the director if something like this happens.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I have just retired from the legal profession and would like to consider joining a bridge club or find a regular card game for beginners. I loved playing bridge in college about 45 years ago, but since then my activities have been limited to a friendly game of hold ’em poker. Do you have any suggestions? — On the River, Miami DEAR READER: Go to the American Contract Bridge League website and you’ll be able to find details of clubs in your area under web3.acbl.org/findalist/club. Good luck and good hunting!