Aces on Bridge
Dear Mr. Wolff: I had no idea how to bid this hand:
♠ A-K-7-6-5, ♥ K-J-9-8,
♦ 2, ♣ A-K-9. My left-hand opponent opened one diamond, and his partner responded one spade. What would you do?
— Delayed Action, Phoenix, Arizona
Answer: No call describes this hand. It would need a diamond stopper for one no-trump, while two spades would tend to show a better or longer spade suit. Doubling and hoping for the best might work. Or you can pass — my choice — and then back in with a takeout double if your left-hand opponent rebids in a minor. Passing and then doubling one no-trump should be for penalties, showing length in spades. (Some play this double as a light takeout; maybe you could even play it as two-way.)
Dear Mr. Wolff: When returning partner’s suit, which card should I lead from a remaining four-card holding from an original five-card suit?
— Current Count, Waterbury, Connecticut
Answer: It is normal to return your remaining secondhighest if you can afford it, but beware that at notrump this might cause your partner to think you originally had only a three-card suit, which in turn might lead him to shift instead of cashing out. In such positions against no-trump, you might do better to return your lowest card, feigning an original four-card suit. Your partner might then see less harm in continuing the suit.
Dear Mr. Wolff: Vulnerable against not, what would you bid over a one-diamond opening on your right, with: ♠ A-5-3-2, ♥ K-10-9-3-2, ♦ 10-4, ♣ A-3?
— Think Ahead, Montreal
Answer: I usually bid a five-card major when I have one, but with a one-bid hand I would double, planning to pass a two-club response. If I were to overcall one heart, we could lose our spade fit. I would prefer an overcall if I had another high card or better hearts. A Michaels cuebid would be appropriate only by partnership agreement, as the call normally promises a 5-5 distribution.
Dear Mr. Wolff: How does one summon the director in a private match?
— Pro Bono, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Answer: The one thing you must not do is attempt to resolve any technical matters between yourselves. You should contact an official of the governing body involved. They will often have a list of qualified directors you can call. Online matches tend to have a director or match host available.
Dear Mr. Wolff: Do you have any rules as to when a fiveno-trump bid is a grand slam force as opposed to asking partner to pick a slam?
— Dual Meaning, Willoughby, Ohio
Answer: The grand slam force, or Josephine, crops up very rarely these days because a pair can diagnose the quality of their trump suit via Roman Key-Card Blackwood. Still, there are times when you have a void and only want to know about trump quality. Then the grand slam force is very useful. Typically, it applies when your side has bid and raised a suit while mentioning no other suits, or as a direct response to an opening bid. The rest of the time, the modern meaning of pick-aslam should take priority.