ACES ON BRIDGE
DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner has suggested that we play non-leaping Michaels. What is this, and would you ever use it?
— Two Suits, Bremerton, Wash.
DEAR READER: Leaping Michaels applies after an opponent’s weak two. A jump to four of an unbid minor shows a good hand with at least 5-5 shape in that minor and the other major (or an unspecified major if the opening was two diamonds). Non-leaping Michaels is the same, but it is used after a three-level preempt. Personally, I prefer a four-level overcall to be natural there, so I do not use the non-leaping variant, but I can see the theoretical merit.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What is the optimal way to handle the suit combination of king-10-fourth facing acethird, needing three tricks? — With the Odds, Sioux Falls, S.D.
DEAR READER: Cash the ace and then lead to the 10, picking up queen-jack-fifth and queen-jack-fourth onside, but losing to honor-doubleton offside. If you can rule out a 5-1 split, cash the king on the second round, playing to drop an honor-doubleton, and then cross back and lead toward the 10 (there being eight honor-doubleton cases compared with six of a small doubleton). With only one entry to the hand with the ace, cash the king then ace before playing to the 10.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What would you do with ; A-K-J-7-6, k 5-4, l —-, ' A-K-Q-J-10-5 after your partner opens three diamonds, not vulnerable against vulnerable opposition?
— Pre-empting Partner,
Albuquerque, N.M. DEAR READER: My goal would be to try to reach the best game, which could be three no-trump, four spades or five clubs. I would start with a forcing call of three spades. If partner raises, fine. If he cue-bids four hearts, I will force a slam. If partner bids three no-trump, I will probably pass, trusting him to have a heart stopper. If he rebids four diamonds, I will try five clubs, which I hope is natural!
DEAR MR. WOLFF: You hold; 4,k 5, l A-K-Q-10-7-5-4, ' A-K-J-5 and open one diamond. The next player cue-bids two diamonds, Michaels, and partner doubles to show values. When the next player bids three diamonds to show a raise of either major, what do you do? — Practical Shot,
Duluth, Minn. DEAR READER: I’d take my life into my own hands and leap to six diamonds. This could be wrong, and maybe I should offer clubs along the way, but my partner has shown some values, and I will surely have a play for slam facing an ace. Let the opponents guess what to do next!
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Would you recommend that we play a non-serious three no-trump in our two-overone auctions, or is a serious three no-trump better?
— Personal Preference, Dodge City, Kan.
DEAR READER: When you have a fit of at least eight cards in a major in a twoover-one (or fourth-suit) game-forcing auction, assume that you always want to play the major; thus, three notrump is not needed as natural. Many play that three notrump denotes a minimum that is still suitable for slam (with direct cue bids showing extras). Others play it the other way around, with three no-trump being “serious.” I prefer the former.
If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at bobbywolff@mindspring.com