Aces on Bridge
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding SPADES K-J-8-2, HEARTS 7-6-3-2, DIAMONDS J-92, CLUBS A-9, I heard my partner open one club. I responded one heart, and my partner bid two notrump. What is the best way to explore for a major-suit fit by showing my spades without promising five hearts? — Giving Me Fits
ANSWER: There are many ways, varying from simple to complex. The simplest is to play that all bids force to game, and either three clubs or the other minor as looking for three-card support or the other major. Some play transfers here, in which case you can transfer to hearts, then bid spades to show 5-4. You can transfer directly to spades to show 4-4.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I’ve been having problems with Blackwood when we have a minor suit as trump. What are your thoughts on using the Minorwood convention, where four of a known minor agrees that suit and asks for aces?
— Anna in the Ark
ANSWER: I can’t say I’m a huge fan (I vote for simple over complex), but I can say this: If you have set a minor as trump, I think it is much better to use one over the trump suit as ace-asking — Redwood, not Minorwood. This allows you to choose between temporizing with the trump suit and taking control with Key-card, whereas Minorwood forces you to take a positive action as opposed to making a neutral call.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I play rubber bridge with my friends and am sometimes surprised to see you recommend treatments relating to duplicate — pre-emptive raises and so forth. Given that we are playing for real money, would you suggest we learn this approach too? I’m not afraid to use these bids, but I’m not sure they will pay off in the long run. — Easy Street
ANSWER: Speaking as someone who has taken his fair share of sacrifices at rubber bridge, yes, I would say that bidding as high as you can with a fit is a good idea. While sacrificing at rubber is not as much fun as at pairs, bidding to the maximum with a fit does not always result in minus scores.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Please comment on the quality of a suit required for a direct overcall at the one-level, and contrast that with what is required for a two-level overcall. — Mumblety-Peg
ANSWER: With a good and a five-card suit, you should not be constrained in acting at the one-level just because your five-card suit is weak. Of course, on some hands that include a weak suit, you might prefer to double when you are relatively short in the opponents’ suit. With a two-level overcall, you guarantee a good suit. If you have only five, you must have extra values or extra side-suit shape. A minimum opening bid with an average fivecard suit emphatically does not qualify for this action.