ACES ON BRIDGE
DEAR MR. WOLFF: As a non-expert who plays a few bells and whistles (one of which is using jumps both in and out of competition as shortage and fit for partner but not game-forcing), I saw a deal in your column recently where this would have reached a slam that was missed around the room. Have you contemplated using that method? — Lipstick Lizard, Houston
DEAR READER: In an uncontested auction, such jumps should be natural — though you can agree any range for the call you like. A jump to three hearts, after partner opens one spade and the next hand bids two diamonds, for example, should be either weak or fit-showing. Mini-splinters, as you describe them, are not my favorite. Will I change my methods? No — the hand you describe may be the only hand these methods would work for! DEAR MR. WOLFF: I heard my partner open one diamond and the next hand overcall one heart. My hand was 9-8-3-2, A-K-J, J-7-5, Q-9-3, and I chose to ignore the spades and jump to two no-trump, invitational. My partner now bid three clubs, which I assume is forcing. What should I do now? — Continuing Education, London, Ontario
DEAR READER: I do not see any reason not to bid three diamonds. This hand is exactly in range for what partner expects, and now partner may pass (which is fine by me) or bid values in whichever major he has values in. If he bids three hearts, I’d expect the spades to be wide open and go past three no-trump (maybe with a call of four hearts).
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I have been taught to play a style where two-over-one is a game force except when responder rebids his suit. I find the only downside to this approach is that with a full opening hand, responder must find a second bid other than his suit at the three-level. What is your opinion of this style? — Old Jerrold, Spokane, Wash. DEAR READER: The main advantage of two-overone is to establish a fit as early as possible between the partners, so every bid now becomes forcing. This means that your possible games and slams can be properly explored. That isn’t so when responder is denied the ability to make a forcing rebid of his own suit. I’ve reluctantly moved to believing that a rebid at the three-level should be forcing to game. So an immediate jump to the three-level becomes a good suit, but with only invitational values.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I held A-Q-2, K-J-2, K-10-4, K-Q-3-2, and heard my RHO open one heart. Would you elect to double or bid one no-trump? I chose to bid one no-trump, and my partner passed with five diamonds to the ace-jack. However, we could make three no-trump easily enough.
— Undercooked, North Bay, Ontario DEAR READER: Your hand is a fraction too strong for your chosen call, especially because your hearts are positionally worth a lot more than 4 high-card points. I’d choose to double and rebid in no-trump to show 18-20, feeling I have plenty in hand. If my RHO had opened one spade, I would surely overcall one no-trump, as so many more of my points are tied up in my heart stoppers.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What defense do you recommend against a weak notrump? As a parallel thought, what meaning would you assign to a passed hand’s double of a strong no-trump? — Horse Before the Cart,
Memphis DEAR READER: While an artificial double of a strong no-trump is perfectly playable, I strongly suggest any defense against a weak notrump should include a penalty double with a call reserved to show the majors (either two clubs or two diamonds). That means playing Landy or Cappelletti. By a passed hand, you could try using a double as clubs.