Aces on Bridge
Dear Mr. Wolff: In a recent pairs game, my partner and I bid uncontested to seven spades on the following cards on the lead of the diamond four: ♠ A-K-Q-9-4-3-2, ♥ A, ♦ 7, ♣ Q-J-7-6, facing dummy’s ♠ 10-6, ♥ 10-8,
♦ A-K-Q-10-9-5-3, ♣ A-2. After winning the diamond with the ace, what is my best line of play? — Taking the Mickey, Arlington, Texas
Answer: I’m guessing you should ruff a diamond in hand with the spade nine. The alternatives don’t look so appealing. Note that on a club lead you would probably have relied on diamonds breaking. Maybe I’m missing something — you certainly could draw trumps and take the club finesse.
Dear Mr. Wolff: I love your columns, but it would be helpful if I knew whether I would be playing or defending before I read the text so I don’t read too much and spoil the challenge. — Concerned Citizen, Lorain, Ohio
Answer: You make a valid point. When I get the chance, I do sometimes (but not always) mention that you should put yourself in East’s or West’s place or whoever the appropriate player is. However, as a general rule, please assume that you are declarer unless another position is indicated.
Dear Mr. Wolff: When my partner hesitates in a competitive auction, am I allowed to bid on? — Secretary Bird, Northville, Mich.
Answer: A simplistic answer might be, “Yes, but only if you deem it to be clear.” Partner’s hitch tends to imply he was thinking about bidding rather than passing. So you must strive to be ethical, and in cases where your action doesn’t seem clear to you, go against the action indicated by the pause. If you feel you cannot make a good case to the director, you had better pass and save yourself the hassle.
Dear Mr. Wolff: I recently bid one no-trump over my right hand opponent’s one-club opening without a stopper. Partner raised to three no-trump and we were off five club tricks. Was I silly? — Nervous Nelly, Spartanburg, S.C.
Answer: Minor suits are often opened with short holdings, so I don’t think you need a stopper if you have some length in the suit and no convenient alternative. You usually would need a stopper to be able to bid one no-trump over a major, though. That partner did not have a club card but wasn’t suitable for Stayman, and that your right-hand opponent had five of them with your left-hand opponent leading the suit was a somewhat unlucky combination of circumstances.
Dear Mr. Wolff: I recently held ♠ K-Q-J-10-7-3-2,
♥ 6, ♦ Q-10-3, ♣ 10-4 as dealer at favorable vulnerability. What would you bid? — Pressure Bid, Fredericksburg, Va.
Answer: I would open four spades. The hand is offensive in nature, and the colors call for an aggressive preempt to take up lots of room. You would not be content to let the opponents play four hearts with this hand, so you might as well bid four spades right away, giving the enemy less chance to get together.