THE aCES ON BRIDgE
Dear Mr. wolff:
You recently wrote about this hand: ♠ K-10-8, ♥ A-5, ♦ J- 7- 4, ♣ Q- J- 10- 9- 3. In response to your partner’s overcall of one heart over one diamond, you bid two clubs, and the issue was what your partner meant when he cuebid two diamonds. Does this show a raise of clubs or something else -- and what should you do next? -- Hop to It, Pottsville, Pa.
AnswEr: North’s cue-bid is artificial and simply says “Good hand; tell me more; then I’ll let you know why I set up a one-round force.” Your two-heart bid now reveals secondary support for your partner and lets him decide whether to settle for hearts or do something else -- whatever it was that he planned when he cue-bid.
Dear Mr. wolff:
At our club we received a request from a younger pair to be allowed to play a complicated system, which included very light opening bids. I know some of our members are opposed to this, but I want to encourage the younger crowd. What do you think I should do? -- Blame Game, Lorain,
ohio
AnswEr: This is tough. You are right to encourage younger players, but you mustn’t risk losing your regulars. I think maybe one day a week you might experiment with allowing the methods - - but only if proper defenses are provided and full explanations given.
Dear Mr. wolff:
What I should take into account in deciding whether to jump- shift as opener at my second turn to speak? Say I open one diamond and hear my partner respond one spade. Do I have enough to bid three clubs, holding ♠ 7-4, ♥ K-Q, ♦ A-J-9-5-4, ♣ AK-J-2? Would your answer be different if partner had responded one heart? -- Gonna Jump Down spin
Around, Jackson, Tenn.
AnswEr: There is certainly something to be said for bidding two no-trump over a one-spade response. After all, you do have a fairly balanced hand and a stopper in the unbid suits. Over a oneheart response you are maximum for a call of two clubs, planning to act again. Your suits are not good enough for a jump to three clubs, but with three hearts, or slightly better intermediates, I would jump to three clubs.