Aces on Bridge
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding SPADES J-2, HEARTS A-76, DIAMONDS A-Q-8-3, CLUBS K-9-4-2, would you open one diamond or one club? After a one-spade overcall and a negative double from your partner, what would you do? My partner told me that opening one diamond and rebidding two clubs guarantees at least nine cards in the minors. Is this true — and if so, why?
— Pokemon
ANSWER: I like to open good suits if I can, so I would open one diamond. Then I would rebid two clubs just as you did. If there had been no opposition bidding and my partner had responded in a major, I would bid one no-trump without much of a qualm.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: It seems that modern experts have changed the requirements for opening no-trump bids, especially the two no-trump opening bid showing 20-22. How do you personally deal with all the balanced ranges with a strong hand? My reasoning is that with most of the high cards in one hand, the hand won’t play as well as when the high cards are split between the two hands. So I’d prefer to downgrade my 20-HCP hands. — Frere Jacques
ANSWER: Working backward, I don’t want to drive to game with fewer than 25 points. That means with 20-24 (in other words, a 5-point range), we go through a direct or indirect two no-trump call. Working back one more step, I think that means 22 goes up or down as you see fit, and the ranges are really 20 to a weak 22, a strong 22 to 24, and a strong 24 to 26 for opening two no-trump, opening two clubs and then rebidding no-trump, and jumping in no-trump, respectively.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding SPADES A-J-7-3-2, HEARTS 9, DIAMONDS Q-J-7-4, CLUBS Q-10-4, would you overcall two spades over one no-trump in balancing seat? Would the vulnerability matter, and would you be affected by whether you were a passed hand?
— Baby Back Ribs
ANSWER: There is much to be said for being able to show a two-suited hand here. Either way, though, you must come in to show spades. Yes, it might end in disaster, but that should not stop you from competing over one no-trump at the slightest opportunity, especially when you know partner is sure to find the wrong lead if you don’t help.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What advice would you give me as a newbie to duplicate bridge in terms of counting the hand? Should I try on every hand, or just when I think it important?
— Learning Curve
ANSWER: As declarer, always count trumps. (Add up yours and dummy’s to tell you how many the opponents have, then just focus on that number.) As defender, work out from the auction how many points you expect declarer to have (or if you can’t do that, try to make the calculation for your partner’s hand). For side suits, start small; focus on the one suit you regard as critical and work your way up from there.