Aces on Bridge
DEAR MR. WOLFF: A recent problem in pairs had us scratching our heads. I opened one club holding SPADES Q-J-8-2, HEARTS 3, DIAMONDS A-Q-10, CLUBS K-Q-9-4-2. My LHO overcalled one heart, my partner bid one no-trump, my RHO tried two hearts and I had to decide what to do. I know my partner does not have spades, so should I pass, double or bid either two no-trump or three clubs? — Last Strain
ANSWER: Passing is clearly wrong, when the opponents have a big fit. Meanwhile, double should be balanced extras, so the choice is which suit to bid. I think two spades is best, showing clubs and spades and letting partner go forward as he sees fit. A call of two no-trump might be played as artificial by some (bit. ly/AoBGoodBad2NT), but if not, it would be a source of tricks in clubs and not enough for game — maybe five or six club tricks in a minimum balanced hand.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner and I did not agree on a double; we need you to provide a Solomonic ruling, please. My LHO opened one club, and my partner doubled. I responded one spade, holding jack-10-fifth of spades and the doubleton diamond king. Now my LHO came again with two diamonds, and my partner doubled. What does that mean? — Seconds Out
ANSWER: I cannot say for sure that there is a standard interpretation. I’d expect this to be extras with three spades, so I might bid two spades now. For such a simple auction, I agree there should be a standard interpretation, but I think it should just be a good hand with no clear call.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: My question is about game tries in an uncontested auction after a major suit is raised to two. Where do you stand on long- and short-suit game tries, and what about bids in no-trump or a reraise of the trump suit? — Trying Hard
ANSWER: A simple approach is to use new suits as help tries (three or four cards to one top honor is typical), no-trump calls as natural, and a re-raise as pre-emptive. Another approach is to use step one as promising shortage somewhere — the next three calls as longsuit tries. This approach is called Rosenkranz and is discussed at bit.ly/ AoBRosenkranz.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: After opening two no-trump with a flat 20-21, passed out, declarer may often end up playing a hopeless contract facing a flat near-bust dummy. Is opening such hands at one of a minor worth considering as an alternative opening? — Dark Side
ANSWER: You can’t go through life with your umbrella open just in case it is about to rain. Similarly, while the two-no-trump opener isn’t the best part of a standard system, you must use it to describe the balanced 20-21 HCP hands. Opening one of a minor won’t let you describe that hand precisely. So don’t worry — be happy.