Aces on Bridge

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What is the best use of Stayman, followed by three of a minor? Should this be natural and weak, invitational, or some kind of forcing call?

— Tim the Trumpeter

ANSWER: Common expert opinion is that Stayman, followed by three of either minor, is game-forcing with at least five cards in that minor and an unbid major of four cards (typically the unbid major if partner shows one at his second turn). To sign off in a minor, transfer to that suit and pass the response. On invitational hands with a minor and a four-card major, use Stayman, then raise the response or bid two no-trump as appropriate. The same basic structure applies over a two-notrump opener.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Recently, my partner passed in first seat, and I opened one spade. After a double from the next hand, she jumped to three clubs. I thought this would be a maximum pass with clubs, but she was sure she had shown a pre-emptive bid. I had always assumed that a preemptive bid must be made at your first turn to speak. Who is right?

— Jumping Bean

ANSWER: I would certainly not expect my partner to have a good hand with just clubs. With such a hand, she should bid two clubs or redouble rather than jump. But I also don’t play this call as pre-emptive. I suggest you play all passed-hand jumps facing an opener or overcall as fit jumps. See www.bridgeguys.com/ Conventions/flower_bids. html. DEAR MR. WOLFF: We recently had a problem when I picked up a balanced 13-count and opened one heart, my five-card major. My partner had a balanced 17-count with only three hearts and four spades. He bid one spade. After I responded one no-trump, how was my partner supposed to explore for slam, given that there was no “unbid” minor?

— Scott Free

ANSWER: I’d recommend you use two clubs in this auction as the equivalent of New Minor. For the uninitiated, the call simply sets up a forcing auction and says nothing about clubs. Your partner can bid hearts at his next turn, and you will either cooperate toward slam with a suitable hand or sign off if minimum. Two diamonds can be natural and nonforcing here.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: When defending against a suit contract, what are your thoughts on underleading aces or leading them out in bid and supported suits?

— Bamboozler

ANSWER: Even if my partner raises a suit I have opened or overcalled in, I hate to lead out an unsupported ace unless everything else is worse. I’m more likely to do it in a suit my partner introduced first. If I’m defending a contract that was doubled by my partner, it is even less attractive to lead an ace, since the auction has suggested we are not stacked in our long suit. Underleading would be limited to cases where my lefthand opponent has shown stoppers in that suit.