ACES ON BRIDGE
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Playing online, I opened one heart with ♠ A-4, ♥ 10-9-87-6, ♦ A-K-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-K-Q-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, S.D.
DEAR READER: I hope your partner did not blame you for failing to convert to seven no-trump, 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 no-trump, is the bid of either minor considered New Minor Forcing?
— Kneeling Position, Honolulu, Hawaii
DEAR READER: 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, Tenn.
DEAR READER: 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, Pa. DEAR READER: 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-10-9-3, ♥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-83-2, ♦ K-8-7-5, ♣ K-Q-9-8. I made 12 tricks. Should I have bid on?
— Cautious Cat, Huntington, W.Va.
DEAR READER: 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 notrump, 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.