Aces on Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff:

I understand that a revoke yields one or two tricks. Say I am playing four spades and ruff my right-hand opponent's heart lead. My lefthand opponent overruffs, but it turns out she has a heart. Now, If I make only three spades, shouldn't I get that trick back to complete the four-spade contract? What if I make four spades anyway? Do I get credit for the overtrick that that person cost me by a renege?

— Brown Betty, Bristol, Virginia

Answer: Yes, indeed. Penalty tricks count toward whether you make or don't make your contract and overtricks go above the line as usual.

Dear Mr.

Wolff: Would you bid anything with ♠ A-Q-4, ♥ K-8-7-4, ♦ Q-J-10-2,

♣ Q-4after partner opens a weak two spades at favorable vulnerability and the next player passes?

— Lots of Defense, Casper, Wyoming

Answer: I would pass. These queens and jacks probably won't be of much use facing a single-suiter. Conversely, those soft cards in partner's short suits are likely to score tricks on defense. I like my chances on defense and I have enough values to think two spades might end the auction, so I see no reason to raise to three spades. Make the club queen the king and I might act.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

How should I keep the bidding going after my partner reverses at the two-level when I have a good hand?

— Blackout, Huntington, West Virginia

Answer: You used to have to use fourth-suit forcing to set up a game-force here. The modern (better) solution is to use a rebid in your major as a one-round force and have two notrump as a puppet to three clubs — except facing real extras — after which responder can pass or sign off elsewhere (as in Lebensohl). Responder's direct bids are game-forcing, to facilitate game and slam bidding.

Dear Mr. Wolff: In a recent social game, I held ♠ A-K8-7-5-2, ♥ 9, ♦ A-10-5,

♣ J-10-4 only to hear my left-hand opponent open three diamonds and partner double for takeout, vulnerable against not! I bid six spades, but I did not receive the most suitable dummy: ♠ Q-J-9-3, ♥ A-K10-7-6, ♦ J-7,

♣ K-6. I went down when the hearts did not behave. Was six spades too much?

Answer: I think six spades is a practical shot. You will know how to play the hand after the opening preempt and you can hope to ruff diamonds in dummy. Unluckily, your partner had a dead minimum with wasted honors in both major suits.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I find it hard to work out when I should give preference to partner's first suit or introduce my own on an auction such as one spade — one no-trump — two clubs. What sort of hand should bid two hearts or two diamonds here?

Answer: These two-level suit-bids show weak hands and are an attempt to sign off. I would usually give preference to partner's spade suit with a doubleton, but I would certainly consider bidding a six-card red suit instead. I would rarely bid a mediocre fivecard suit of my own ahead of showing preference for partner.