Aces on Bridge
Dear Mr. Wolff: Does this constitute an opening bid as dealer at favorable vulnerability: ♠ J-4, ♥ J-8-43-2, ♦ A-Q-J-9-4, ♣ Q?
— Soft Cards, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Answer: I like 5-5 hands in general, but I would pass this one, due to the three likely wasted points in my short suits and a poor heart holding. If my red suits were reversed, I would be more happy opening. Consider the strength of the suit you would be opening when the decision is marginal.
Dear Mr. Wolff: Is it necessary for my constructive bidding to play fourth suit forcing? How far forcing should I play the call?
— Artificial, Wausau, Wisconsin
Answer: Yes, both new minor and fourth suit forcing help you differentiate invitational sequences from game-forcing calls. I always play fourth suit as forcing to game for simplicity; then opener can continue to describe his hand at the two-level without fear of being passed out below game on an auction such as one heart - one spade - two clubs - two diamonds.
Dear Mr. Wolff:
My local club is very small, and the tables are cramped together. Is it not incumbent on us to keep our voices down so as to avoid disturbing others?
— Manners Maketh Man, San Antonio, Texas
Answer: This setup is far from ideal, but perhaps the way to live with it is to keep analysis to a minimum, instead discussing the hands in the bar afterward. Some people are naturally loud. Using bidding boxes does eliminate part of the problem, of course.
Dear Mr. Wolff:
A friend gave me this opening lead problem: You hold ♠ 4-2, ♥ Q-J-6-5-2, ♦ 8-6, ♣ J-106-3. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart, the next player overcalls two diamonds and partner rebids three clubs. Your right-hand opponent comes alive with three spades, which his partner raises to four. Your lead?
— Old Adage, Rockford, Illinois
Answer: It is natural to lead partner's suit, but we have at most one club trick to take, and I am sure the opponents have a double fit. Declarer did not overcall one spade, but then he bid spades at the threelevel facing his partner's diamond bid. He must have diamond support as well as spades. Thus, there is a danger that declarer will be able to draw trumps and get rid of his losers on dummy's diamonds. I cannot delay. I will attack by leading the heart queen, using my one time on play to lead the suit in case dummy holds the king and my partner holds the ace.
Dear Mr. Wolff: I have heard the term “XYZ” crop up in conversation a few times. Can you explain what this means?
— Two-way Timmy, Pueblo, Colorado
Answer: This is a bidding convention that applies after a side has bid three different strains at the one-level. Then, a bid of two clubs by responder is a puppet to two diamonds to play there, while bidding on would show an invitational hand. A bid of two diamonds instead is an artificial game-force, regardless of whether diamonds have been bid beforehand. A similar method, known as two-way checkback, can be played after a one-notrump rebid.