Aces on Bridge
Dear Mr. Wolff: What do you think about the merits of inverted minors? — Back Flip, Staten Island, New York
Answer: It is important for responder to have a forcing raise available for all suits. The Jacoby two no-trump works for a major, but most do not replicate the treatment for a minor since it takes up so much space. I think inverted raises, where raising partner’s one-of-a-minor to two is invitational or better, work well. A natural and limited raise is not so useful when partner’s minor could be short. You can sensibly combine inverted minors with pre-emptive jump raises.
Dear Mr. Wolff: Would you open a strong no-trump with ♠ K-Q, ♥ A-K-J-3, ♦ Q-2, ♣ J-10-9-4-3? — Notable No-trump, Laredo, Texas
Answer: Yes, I think a no-trump is fine with so much in the short suits. If I had five hearts and four clubs, one heart would be preferable, so as to find my 5-3 major-suit fit. It is rare to have 5-4 shape and open one no-trump; as a general rule, try not to do it with five of a major, or indeed with five of a minor and four spades. These hands tend to be easy to bid out directly by bidding your suits.
Dear Mr. Wolff: How many points would you expect partner to have for a free response at the one-level — say, you open one club, lefty doubles and partner bids one heart? — Honorarium, Panama City, Florida
Answer: Partner is not obliged to bid with a 6- or 7-count, especially one with a weak four-carder. He might still bid with a minimum and a five-card suit or a good four-card holding, but I doubt he would strain to bid one heart on anything like this:
♠ Q-4-2, ♥ J-7-4-3, ♦ K-J5, ♣ J-10-9. Of course, he cannot have much more than that to pass, with redouble available to advertise 9 or more and one no-trump showing a good 7-10 points.
Dear Mr. Wolff: My partnership often raises partner’s one-of-a-major response to two with only three cards. How would you recommend we find out whether he has three or four when choosing whether to play in three no-trump or the major game? — Monstrous Moysians, Casper, Wyoming
Answer: As opener, I, too, often raise with three. Some use a forcing two no-trump to let opener bid out their shape, repeating hearts to confirm four-card support or otherwise bidding naturally, implying only three. Others use a method called spiral; see bridgewinners.com/article/view/ relay-after-openers-raisean-alternative-to-spiral/.
Dear Mr. Wolff: Would you open in fourth chair, holding ♠ J-9-8-7-3, ♥ K-Q-2, ♦ 10-9-2, ♣ A-J? — Thrown In, Norman, Oklahoma
Answer: I would open one spade. Pearson points can be used here: You add the total of high-card points to the number of spades you have, and if that number is 15 or higher, open. Of course, this has to be taken with a grain of salt — I would pass with a poor 5=3=3=2 10-count, for example — but there is no doubting the importance of holding the boss suit when neither side is likely to have a game.
Contact Bobby Wolff at bobbywolff@mindspring. com.