ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding ♠ J-9, ♥ A-Q-J, ♦ A-10-4-3, ♣ A-7-6-4, I believe I have a straightforward opening of one no-trump. After my lefthand opponent overcalls two spades, how should my partnership play a double over and under the trumps — and what should I do if the auction comes back to me? — Crowded House,

Pasadena, Calif.

DEAR READER: It is sensible to play all doubles of a natural call (or of a two-suited call that names one of the two suits naturally) as takeout, if and only if it is the first call your partnership has made after the no-trump opener. So both sides play takeout doubles of two spades here. I’d make that call in this case; this shape is perfect for it, and my partner can bid his suit. If he has two places to play, he can bid two no-trump.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I understood that following an overcall after your partner opens, as responder you can always start with a takeout double, no matter what was bid on your right. In what cases would double be for penalty?

— Red Flag, Cartersville, Ga.

DEAR READER: If you play negative doubles in response to an opening bid, it means that all initial doubles of suit overcalls of four spades or lower are emphasized toward takeout. Doubles of three spades and higher may tend toward optional, though. Doubles of no-trump bids and of artificial calls that show two-suited hands, however, suggest a desire to defend. (When the opponents find a fit, all doubles by either player at their second turn tend to be takeout.)

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Should you wait until you have all suits properly controlled before launching into Blackwood? Or should you cue-bid instead?

— Mumbo-Jumbo,

Muncie, Ind.

DEAR READER: Don’t use Blackwood if you are sure you won’t know what to do over the response. In other words, if your hand consists of the first-round controls but not secondand third-round controls, let your partner ask; cue-bid instead to let him do so. When your side has more than enough high-card points for slam, it is not terrible to use Blackwood with one suit that may be unguarded if no sensible alternative exists.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Please tell me how I can discreetly ask my opponents not to look at my partner’s cards — or find a way to help my partner hold his cards back!

— Hiding in Plain Sight,

Dodge City, Kan.

DEAR READER: One thought is that you might ask an opponent to hold his cards back, and then extend the warning to your partner. Incidentally, one thing that always gets my goat is people who count their suits so their partner (but only their partner) might see, if they are looking. That should be firmly, if politely, discouraged, too.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What scheme of responses do you recommend to a two-club opener? Do you prefer complex over simple schemes, and what is your opinion of control-showing responses?

— Tripe and Onions,

Troy, N.Y.

DEAR READER: I recommend a simple scheme of responses. I’m happy to bid two hearts with positive values and a reasonable suit, whereas a two-spade call needs two top honors in a suit of five or more cards, or a six-card suit and one top honor. I can see the logic of using all other calls as natural, but if you prefer something artificial, use two no-trump as clubs with limited values. Bids at the three-level would then be natural with very good suits (or transfers if you want to live a little).