ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

In a recent teams match, I picked up ♠ A-Q-6-3, ♥ Q-98-6-2, ♦ A-4, ♣ Q-7. At favorable vulnerability, I opened one heart in third chair, and partner responded one no-trump, which we play as wide-ranging. What would you do now? — Rabid Rebid, Midland, Mich.

DEAR READER: I can hardly rebid that uninspiring five-card heart suit, nor do I have the strength for a raise to two no-trump. The options are to pass or to produce an off-shape twoclub rebid. I would go low with the former. If we miss a tight game, at least we are non-vulnerable.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I see that most top-level matches are now played with screens. How do the rules differ from the more casual mode of the game? — Lawful Louie, Detroit, Mich.

DEAR READER: The screen separates the table in two (South-West and NorthEast), so each player selfalerts all their side’s bids in the auction. Also, since no one can see their partner during the auction, if a player makes a mechanical error in the bidding, such as pulling the wrong card from the bidding box, they can replace it without giving away unauthorized information. DEAR MR. WOLFF: Say you hold ♠ Q-J-5-2, ♥ A-Q-J-6-4-3, ♦ K-6-4, ♣ —at love all. Partner opens one club, your right-hand opponent overcalls one spade, and you bid two hearts. Partner then rebids two no-trump, showing a minimum. What would you do now?

— In Competition, Sioux Falls, S.D.

DEAR READER: For me, three hearts is non-forcing now. So, I can either jump to four hearts, which should be a reasonable place to play, or mark time with a three-diamond call. I think the latter is best, as partner might have had to bid two no-trump with a singleton heart as the least of several evils, such as with 3=1=4=5 shape. In that case, three no-trump may be where we belong, and four hearts may be set on defensive spade ruffs. Partner can now bid three hearts with a doubleton honor.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Would you balance after a one-heart opening on your left, passed around to you with ♠ 6, ♥ J-9, ♦ K-J-10-7-2, ♣ Q-J-9-6-4, with nobody vulnerable? — Can of Worms, Burlington, Vt. DEAR READER:

Where are the spades? Partner is all but marked with a fair hand but failed to overcall one spade. Your opponents have at least an eightcard fit in the boss suit, so you are unlikely to win the part-score, and balancing could give them a chance to bid game. I would let it go. One heart is relatively unlikely to be their best spot.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I have overheard some of the experts at my club discussing Rosenkranz redoubles. What are they? — Lead Director, Grand Junction, Colo.

DEAR READER: When your partner overcalls in a suit over your left-hand opponent’s opening and your right-hand opponent makes a negative double, you can redouble to show a smattering of values with ace-doubleton or king-doubleton in partner’s suit. The idea is to get partner to underlead his top honor in the suit if lefty declares the contract, without issuing a direct raise that may mislead partner as to the degree of your fit. It could also allow partner to compete effectively with the right hand. I prefer the standard value-showing meaning, though: a good allaround hand without threecard support for partner.

If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at

bobbywolff@mindspring.com