ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My question is about disclosure, specifically about the range for our side’s weak two bids and the best way to make sure the opponents know what my partner knows. Our convention card says 5-11, but at favorable vulnerability in first or third seat, we will frequently act lighter. Is this a permissible style variation? Should it be alerted or perhaps pre-alerted? How should we mark our card? — Bandersnatch,

Cincinnati DEAR READER: I appreciate your concern, and you are right to think the opponents should be alerted — but not pre-alerted. Many convention cards have a section at the top for very light actions, as well as a space in the area for preempts. Mark those properly, and additionally I’d alert the pre-empt if it is in one of those seats.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: You recently ran a deal in which a player heard his LHO open two hearts, over which his partner bid two spades. His RHO raised to three hearts, and this came back to his partner, who doubled. He took this as penalty and conceded 10 tricks for a zero. You described the second double as cards, not penalty — why was this? — Looking Back, Worcester, Mass. DEAR READER: The double of three hearts is for takeout, showing extras, but overcaller doesn’t know, for example, whether advancer has three spades and a weak hand (as was the case here) or short spades with a solid defensive holding in hearts. In other words, the double is for takeout, but doesn’t have to be taken out.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I’m planning to direct my club events with an Arrow-switch or Scrambled Mitchell to get only one winner from the field. In other words, in the last few rounds, the North-South pairs will play the East-West cards, and vice versa. Is this a good idea? And if I run one, how many boards need to be switched to achieve a fair result? — Doppelganger,

Trenton, N.J. DEAR READER: Arrow-switching just the last round will be quite sufficient to get a single winner. The mathematics of the situation are quite complex, but I’m assured that this is the normal requirement — indeed, a further arrow-switch might actually be counter-effective.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Would you care to give us an update on your plans for bridge over the next few years, and what your targets in bridge, personal or otherwise, might be?

— Barbie, Claymont, Del. DEAR READER: I travel less than I did, but I still play some national events and trials. I am still keen to contribute to keeping the standard of ethics around the world as high as possible, to make sure we encourage good behavior and discourage lapses. Playing with my wife, Judy, twice a week at the club is now one of my greatest pleasures.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding ♠ 8-6-3, ♥ A-Q-4,

♦ Q-2, ♣ K-J-10-6-3, I overcalled two clubs over one diamond. My partner subsequently suggested that a takeout double would be better since I had about an opening and support for the other three suits. What is the current thinking here? — Surfeit of Lampreys,

Grand Forks, N.D. DEAR READER: I believe that when you have a five-card major and limited values, you would normally bid the suit rather than double. Perhaps with 4-5 in the majors, a case could be made for the double. With an uninspiring five-card minor, double if you have three cards in each major, otherwise pass. This hand could go either way, but the club 10, coupled with the three small spades, persuades me to overcall.