ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My colleagues and advisers never seem to agree about how and when the Gerber convention can be used. Most agree that if clubs have been bid, the Blackwood convention is appropriate. Others maintain that it is still correct to bid four clubs. — Iceberg, Kelowna,

British Columbia DEAR READER: Here’s when to use Gerber in suit auctions: never. I suggest to you that a call of four clubs is always a cue-bid rather than Gerber, unless it is a jump after a call of notrump. I know my readers will never buy this, and that it is a losing battle to suggest it. So let’s at least agree that when it isn’t a jump, a call of four clubs is never Gerber. And it is never, ever Gerber when clubs are trump.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Recently, as dummy, I saw my partner playing a threeheart contract in which the opponents revoked in midhand. If the renege had not been caught, declarer would have been down one. He now received two tricks from opponents. The question is, do these tricks give him game or just the contract and an overtrick? — Cereal Killer, Pinehurst, N.C. DEAR READER: The contract is three hearts — regardless of any revokes. The penalty can’t exceed the number of tricks taken by the offenders on or after the offense. If the revoker (personally, not his partner) won the revoke trick, the penalty is two tricks. If the revoker didn’t win that trick, the penalty is one trick, unless the revoker subsequently won a trick with a card he could have played legally on the revoke trick. Also, a director can restore equity if the penalty does not suffice.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: We have a pair at our club who play a weak no-trump. Do you consider it best to play a double of Stayman or of their transfer call by an unpassed hand as relating to the suit they have just bid, or to show points? — Al Dente,

Cincinnati DEAR READER: By a passed hand, all doubles are lead-directing. A double of Stayman or an artificial transfer call by an unpassed hand might sensibly be played as strong, unlinked to clubs. But a double of a natural response should just be takeout.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding: ♠ Q-2, ♥ A-Q-7-5-2,

♦ A-J-9-3, ♣ 3-2, I opened one heart. After a two-club response, I bid two diamonds. Now my partner bid two spades, and the next hand doubled. What should I have bid without the double — and what with it?

— Wheaties, Tacoma, Wash. DEAR READER: Without the double, you would have to bid two no-trump — the doubleton queen is almost as good as a stopper, and if partner has an honor, no-trump is probably better played your way up. After the double, you can pass, suggesting this pattern or a hand with three spades but no wish to bid no-trump.