Aces on Bridge
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Has there been any change in the structure of the major tournaments around the world? Are all the world championships still taking place — and have any been added recently? — Top of the World
ANSWER: The major titles run on a four-year cycle, with odd years having the Bermuda Bowl, plus the Venice Cup and D’Orsi Trophy for women and seniors, respectively. Junior events now include separate fields for under21 and young women. A schoolchildren’s event has very recently been added. The even years alternate between the Olympiad and an event open to everyone where there are both teams and pairs events.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner opened one spade, to which I respond one notrump with 10 points and the Q-9 of spades, and six diamonds to the ace, since we were playing two-overone almost game forcing. She rebid her spades, and I raised to three, thinking I had more than enough to invite game. My partner claimed she was simply showing me a minimum hand, and that I was compelled to pass now. Your comment, please? — Brake Pads
ANSWER: Over the forcing no-trump, with a minimum or moderate hand, opener bids a second, cheap, suit if she has one (occasionally a three-card minor if no four-card suit is available), or rebids a six-card suit. Opener’s rebid of his suit limits the hand by his failure to jump, but is consistent with up to 15 points. So your second-round choice actually appears to have been between a raise to three or four spades.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Earlier this month, you used a term I’m not familiar with in your answer to a letter. Who or what is an “advancer”?
— Moving on up
ANSWER: In times gone by, bridge terminology was both more ornate and less precise, with the use of the word “responder” to describe the partner of an opening bidder and an overcaller. These days, I have picked up on a usage from Bridge World of calling responder’s partner “advancer.” It is unambiguous, if not yet in completely common parlance.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What would you open with SPADES A, HEARTS A-9-4, DIAMONDS A-J-10-9-8-4, CLUBS A-K-2? I toyed with two no-trump, but settled for one diamond. I heard one spade to my left, pass from partner, two spades to the right. What now? Facing the red kings and a doubleton club, five diamonds was easy, and six diamonds was about as good as three notrump! — Scot Free
ANSWER: I’d double two spades, whereupon a number of good things can happen: If partner passes, raises diamonds or bids hearts. If he bids three clubs, I correct to three diamonds and hope to continue the dialogue. A direct two-notrump call feels completely wrong to me, and three diamonds doesn’t begin to tell the story here.