THE ACES ON BRIDGE
Dear Mr. wolff:
Holding ♠ A-J-10-3, ♥ K-J6-5, ♦ 9-4-2, ♣ 9-6; I dealt and passed. My LHO opened one no-trump, passed back to me. I felt as if I had to do something, so I showed the majors, and my partner was asked what he expected. He said, truthfully, that he expected a 5-4 pattern. When my hand came down as dummy in two spades (making eight tricks), everyone laughed at me. Was I out of line?
Donald Duck, spokane, wash.
AnswEr: These days, coming in over one no-trump -- especially as a passed hand if the vulnerability is not against you -- is the norm, not the exception. I wholeheartedly approve of this, but it helps to clue your partner in so that he won’t be expecting the World’s Fair.
Dear Mr. wolff:
I was all set to open with ♠ A-Q-4-3, ♥ A-Q-9-7-3, ♦ 104, ♣ A-K when my RHO preempted to three diamonds. I doubled, and heard my partner jump to four spades. What is the best way forward now? -- onward and Upward,
chicago, Ill. AnswEr: If your target is only to get to small slam, you can bid five spades -- this focuses on diamond control. Partner will not bid slam without at least second- round control. If you cannot envisage a hand opposite without a top diamond, then use Keycard Blackwood. This might get you to the grand slam if partner has the diamond ace and both major-suit kings.
Dear Mr. wolff:
I know you are a fan of the strong jump shift but can you help me with how to rebid as opener? Holding ♠ A-9-3-2,
♥ J-5-4, ♦ A-9, ♣ K-J-9-6, I opened one club and heard my partner bid two hearts. Should I raise hearts, bid spades, or offer no-trump? -- second Helpings,
sacramento, calif. AnswEr: When your partner makes a jump shift, your first duty is to describe the basic nature of your hand. Here you have a balanced hand, so show that first by a call of two no-trump. Raise hearts later -- spades can wait, since partner has either a one-suiter or support for clubs, but never spades.
Dear Mr. wolff:
Under what circumstances should a double of an artificial call be lead-directing as opposed to suggesting a sacrifice? Specifically, if the opponents transfer over a no-trump opening, does the meaning of the double alter depending on what the range of the notrump is, and at what level the transfer takes place? -- Pushing Up Daisies,
sunbury, Pa. AnswEr: Over a weak notrump, the double of a transfer by an unpassed hand can sensibly be played as high cards, not lead-directing. But setting that issue aside, I’d say the double of a two-level transfer is for the lead, but encourages partner to compete with a suitable hand. At higher levels the double simply asks for a lead.