Aces on Bridge
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding SPADES A-9-3, HEARTS A-Q-4-2, DIAMONDS 4, CLUBS A-Q-7-3-2, I opened one club and raised the response of one heart to three. When my partner bid three spades, I cooperated with four clubs, and my partner now went back to four hearts. Should I have bid on — and if so, with what? — On My Uppers
ANSWER: Your partner’s initial cue-bid promised at least slam interest (or else he would simply have signed off in game), but he rates to have no diamond control. Since you have diamonds controlled, I would trot out Blackwood, or Key-Card Blackwood if that is in your armory. Because your partner made a slam try, apparently without any aces, he is guaranteed to hold strong trumps.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: At the start of play, what characteristics of either declarer’s or dummy’s hand might call your attention to the possibility of a squeeze?
— Bridge Nut
ANSWER: Typically, the possibilities for a squeeze exist when declarer arrives at a point where he has top winners, but slow rather than fast losers, and is one trick short of having the rest of the tricks. If you are simply missing an ace, you normally have to lose it. When you have all but one of the tricks in top winners, or can arrange to reach such a position, the possibility of legitimate (or illegitimate) pressure should be uppermost in your mind.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: In New Minor (or checkback Stayman after opener’s rebid of one no-trump), can or should opener jump after his partner uses the relay? For example, with SPADES Q-10-2, HEARTS K-5, DIAMONDS A-8-7-3-2, CLUBS K-10-4, if you rebid one no-trump after your partner’s onespade response, might you jump to three spades over a two-club relay using two spades for a minimum hand with three spades?
— Fine Weather Friend
ANSWER: Absolutely yes. I often think that opener should take more advantage of the three-level responses, in some cases to show both minors when appropriate, but also to bid out hand pattern when he has had to rebid one no-trump with a singleton in partner’s suit.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I read your column online, and I am interested in how the expert players differ from us mortals. Do any of the top bridge players possess photographic memories?
— Snapping Turtle
ANSWER: I don’t know of any, but among past players, Oswald Jacoby had an eidetic memory, able to recall everything he saw, including bridge hands. Al Roth and Australian Tim Seres had similarly great recall, but there is also much to be said for the ability to forget every deal instantaneously once it is over. That way you focus on the new one with full concentration.