Aces on Bridge
Dear Mr. Wolff: Playing online, I opened one heart with ♠ A-4, ♥ 10-9-8-7-6, ♦ AK-Q-3, ♣ J-8. The next bid was three diamonds. I was hoping for a double from my partner, but to my surprise, he bid seven clubs! When the opening lead of the heart king was not ruffed, my partner claimed, holding ♠ K-6, ♥ A-4-3, ♦ ---, ♣ A-KQ-10-9-6-5-4. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen a grand slam bid in two calls.
— Run of the Miller, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Answer: I hope your partner did not blame you for failing to convert to seven notrump, which must be as good as seven clubs since the losers will go on the diamond ace-king-queen. I might have tried eight notrump if looking for a top!
Dear Mr. Wolff: If the uncontested bidding goes: one heart - one spade - one notrump, is the bid of either minor considered New Minor Forcing?
— Kneeling Position, Honolulu, Hawaii
Answer: That is a splendid question. I think you should play two clubs as a relay and two diamonds as natural and non-forcing with at least five diamonds. For better or worse, you cannot stop in precisely two or three clubs. Jumps over one no-trump can be played as natural and forcing with good suits.
Dear Mr. Wolff: Some of my friends play Kickback, but I do not entirely understand this convention. Could you explain it, please — and would you recommend it?
— Step Down, Memphis, Tennessee
Answer: Kickback is nearly the same as Roman Key-card Blackwood, with the same step responses. The difference is that the actual asking bid is the first non-natural call above the suit that has been agreed, at the four-level. Therefore, four diamonds is asking for clubs, all the way up to four no-trump for spades. As with any dangerous stunt you might see on television, my recommendation is: Do not try this at home.
Dear Mr. Wolff: How should you decide the seating rights for each set in an online teams match?
— Take Your Seat, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Answer: I think the easiest way is to give the away side the first choice. In a match of four sets, the away team can pick one set, the home side can choose the next two, and the remaining one goes to the away side. Minus a virtual coin toss, this is the best we have.
Dear Mr. Wolff: We missed a game here when I opened one diamond with ♠ A-109-3, ♥ 9, ♦ A-J-9-6-4, ♣ A-10-4. I heard one heart from partner, and I rebid one spade. When my partner jumped to three diamonds, I passed, thinking I did not have any extras. I found my partner with: ♠ 4, ♥ Q-8-32, ♦ K-8-7-5, ♣ K-Q-9-8. I made 12 tricks. Should I have bid on?
— Cautious Cat, Huntington, West Virginia
Answer: With three aces and nice intermediates, it would be reasonable to bid on. However, I admit I would not know which game to try. I could go for three no-trump, which would not be the most secure contract as the cards lie, or I could try three spades, which I would hope implies doubt about the hearts. I could always convert a spade raise to five diamonds.