ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner sprang an undiscussed sequence on me when I opened one heart. Holding ; Q-3, k A-K-J-7-2, l A-6-3-2, ' 104, I rebid two diamonds over one no-trump. My partner now tried two spades. I thought this showed a bad four-card suit, so I tried two no-trump. Later he told me that he was cue-bidding for diamonds — is that what the call shows?

— First Timer, Charlottesville, Va.

DEAR READER: Two spades should not be natural — with spades, partner would bid them over one heart. Accordingly, many play this sequence to mean a high-card raise to three diamonds. A direct raise would be more of a courtesy raise (less about points, more about shape).

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Do you advocate playing inverted minors — and if so, how forcing should they be — to game, or for one round?

— Raising Cain, Houston, Texas

DEAR READER: If opener or responder rebids two notrump or three of the agreed minor after the inverted minor, this can be passed. Otherwise, you are forced to game. As to whether I like them, I’m ambivalent. I think they are useful but not essential by any means — simple raises have a lot going for them. Moreover, I do not play them in competition, and I consider them of limited benefit if by a passed hand.

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

Please tell me what sort of hand my partner should have had here. I picked up ; A-6-32, k Q-10-6-4, l Q-9-2, ' 104 and passed when my righthand opponent opened one spade. My partner protected with two clubs, my RHO persisted with two diamonds, passed back to my partner, who doubled. Was this for penalty or takeout?

— Torn Up Tickets, Willoughby, Ohio

DEAR READER: After overcalling, most doubles facing a silent partner are for takeout. Here I expect partner to be 2=4=2=5 or 2=3=2=6 with a decent hand, say an opening bid. Since you have no real wish to defend against two diamonds, you might try two hearts. Even a 4-3 fit should handle satisfactorily here.

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

When is it right to open a two-level preempt with a sixcard suit, and when is it right to bid at the three-level? What factors should be taken into account?

— Rubber Ball, Kenosha, Wis.

DEAR READER: In third and first seat, be more aggressive; be more cautious in second seat. If non-vulnerable, and especially at favorable vulnerability, be prepared to push the boat out further. With a six-card suit with good stuffing (kingqueen-jack-10 constitutes the perfect holding) and maybe a side four-card minor, you have good offense and little defense, ideal for a three-level preempt.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Is it right to double a four-level preempt with a balanced hand, or should you be more oriented toward takeout, or even penalties? Specifically, what should one do over a four-diamond preempt with this hand: ; A-2, k A-Q-9-7-5, l Q-2, ' A-K-10-4?

— Toasting Fork, Staten Island, N.Y.

DEAR READER: Help! Since you cannot pass, are you supposed to guess to bid four hearts and play a 5-0 fit with four spades cold, or to double (primarily for takeout) and end up in spades when hearts would be better? I do not know; I’d guess that bidding four hearts may not rule out playing in spades, so I’d choose that, but your guess is as good as mine. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at

bobbywolff@mindspring.com