THE ACES

Would you recommend inverted minor-suit raises? How much strength do you need, and do they deny a four-card major?

A forcing raise for partner’s minor is desirable; otherwise, you may have to invent a suit. Inverted raises (a simple raise of partner’s minorsuit opener) are a one-round force, promising at least game interest facing a minimum, generally denying a four-card major. You need to agree how to stop short of game; one such agreement is that two no-trump and three of the minor by either hand are non-forcing.

Partner opened one club, right-hand opponent passed and I bid one diamond with: 10-3, Q-9-7-4, A-Q-8-4, A-10-2. When my hand came down as dummy in three no-trump, partner

hdcssuggested I should bid one heart. I would normally bid “up the line” with game-forcing values. What say you?

With good diamonds and more than a game-force, I bid diamonds first. If game seems to be the limit facing 12-14 balanced, I tend to hide my diamonds. With five diamonds and four hearts, one can go either way. Your example hand is a oneheart call for me, but I do not feel strongly about it. Replace the spade 10 with the ace, and you might miss a diamond slam by bypassing diamonds.

If partner explains one of my bids incorrectly after the auction has ended, should I correct him?

It depends on your role. If you are defending, you must not say anything, as to do so would wake your partner up. Let the opponents know after the deal is over. If the misinformation affects your opponents, the director will handle the issue. On the other hand, if you are dummy or declarer, you must correct the explanation at once, since it will not affect partner.

I have never played bridge and know nothing about the game, but each morning, I look for your column in my newspaper, just to check out the interesting quotation that you begin with. Thanks so much for that contribution!

It is actually my greatest pleasure in writing the column to add an apposite quote or just find something that makes me smile. I’m glad this appeals even to non-bridgeplayers.