ACES ON BRIDGE

Dear Mr. Wolff: What are the rules when declarer revokes? Does he receive the same trick penalty as any other player at the table would? — Special Role,

Pottsville, Pa. Dear Reader: If declarer revokes but the revoke is not established (because he corrects it in time), there is no automatic penalty. The defenders can use the information they gain from seeing the card played in error. Once the revoke is established, the penalties are as for the defenders.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What are your preferred methods when responding to partner’s one-club or one-diamond opening as a passed hand?

— System On, Kansas City, Mo. Dear Reader: I would play the same conventions that I would as an unpassed hand if that made sense. So, I would still use a simple raise as inverted, but it would be non-forcing now. There is no such thing as a game-forcing two-over-one bid as a passed hand, but a two-club response to one diamond would still show a fair hand and normally six cards; otherwise, one would respond one no-trump. Jumps are fit-showing.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I recently picked up ♠ 9, ♥ A-86-2, ♦ K-Q-6-5, ♣ A-K-Q-3, with everyone vulnerable. It started with two passes to my right-hand opponent, who opened a weak two spades. I doubled, and partner bid three diamonds. What now?

— Lebensohl, Rockford, Ill.

Dear Reader: Many play that partner would bid two no-trump as a puppet to three clubs with a weak hand. Thus, a direct three-diamond call shows values. Rather than exploring for three no-trump, I will jump to four spades to show slam interest with spade shortage and diamond fit. If partner has nothing wasted in spades, his high cards must be working elsewhere.

Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner would like to play jumps to game in forcing auctions as picture bids, but I am not so keen on the idea. What do you think?

— Slow Arrival,

Albany, Ga. Dear Reader: This is where a jump to game in a forcing auction shows no controls in the unbid suits, and therefore good holdings in the suits that have been bid. Say the bidding went one spade - two clubs - two spades - four spades. That would show a hand with concentrated black-suit holdings. This hand might still be interested in slam, rather than an out-and-out minimum. Playing these jumps as weak in context (using the principle of fast arrival) is simpler. You pays yer money, you takes yer choice.

Dear Mr. Wolff: You hold ♠ A-10-9-2, ♥ —-, ♦ A-J9-8-7-3, ♣ A-K-J at favorable vulnerability, and partner opens three hearts as dealer. What would you do?

— Guessing Game, Woodland Hills, Calif. Dear Reader: Three notrump seems a long way off, and if partner has excellent hearts with nothing on the side, I would not be able to reach his hand. I would probably pass or raise to four hearts. Top cards are more valuable facing single-suited hands, to cover partner’s losers in the other suits. I would pass three hearts opposite some of my partners, though, and hope that we are not doubled!

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