ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: You hold ♠ K-J-10-9-5-3, ♥ Q, ♦ A-9-8, ♣ K-J-2, vulnerable at teams. Is this enough to bid two spades after your left-hand opponent opens one heart and your righthand opponent responds one spade?

— Frozen Out, San Luis Obispo, Calif. DEAR READER: I think so, but this is based mainly on the quality of your spade intermediates, which may prove helpful in picking up the known bad split. Who knows? You might even make a game! To pass throughout would be cowardly, but to pass now, intending to balance with spades later, could go wrong if the opponents find a minor-suit fit and boost the auction to an uncomfortable level.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Do you think there is anything to be said for playing the same system as the rest of the room in a pairs event? — Duplicate Duplicate,

North Bay, Ontario DEAR READER: That tactic certainly reduces the number of swings caused by the bidding. I would definitely recommend it if your pair is stronger than the field. However, I don’t think I would ever consider changing my whole system, which is a huge memory strain. I would limit it to the no-trump opening range, which has big effects on who plays the hand.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What do you think are the best continuations after a Jacoby two-no-trump response to a major?

— Wizard of Oz,

Elkhart, Ind. DEAR READER: One popular method is to play new suits at the three-level as shortness-showing, new suits at the four-level as 5-5 shape, four of the major weak, and other calls balanced extras. Perhaps better is to use three clubs for any minimum, three diamonds as balanced with extras, and bids up the line from there showing extras with shortness. After the three-club response, responder can

ask again or show his own shortness. This gives away less to the opponents on game-only hands.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: How many clubs would you bid with this hand: ♠ Q,♥ 4-2, ♦ 7-5, ♣ A-Q-8-7-6-5-3-2? You are vulnerable against not, and your right-hand opponent opens one diamond.

— Up the Ante,

Pensacola, Fla DEAR READER: I think three clubs is enough at this vulnerability, but I would not admonish someone for bidding four, which might concede a penalty but could also make it harder for the opponents to find their best spot. One of the upsides of three clubs is that it keeps three no-trump in the picture for your side — and theirs, I suppose!

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Do you play the Kokish relay of two hearts after a two-club opening and two-diamond response? What are its merits?

— Idle Fancy, Albuquerque, N.M. DEAR READER: Eric Kokish’s idea, where one opens two clubs and rebids two hearts to show hearts or a balanced hand, with a two-spade ask, is a worthwhile one. The most common approach is to put the balanced hand with extra values through the two-heart relay. Thus, the weaker version rebids two no-trump directly. After the two-spade relay, opener bids naturally (but can switch the three-club and three-heart responses so that three clubs is the heart one-suiter, while three hearts shows hearts and clubs).

If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at bobbywolff@mindspring.com