THE ACES

|

August 10–16, 2014

Do you like Drury — and if you

play two-club hand raise this of becomes partner’s convention, response subverted major, by where a passed how to a a do

you suits deal facing with a hands major-suit with opening club bid in third seat?

I think most right-minded players believe Drury offers some useful protection against partner’s

light opening bids. I believe one

might occasionally open marginal

hands with long clubs suits in first

and second seat simply to avoid

potential rebid problems. But as a

passed hand, you can also sensibly

use a jump to three clubs to show

a maximum pass with a long club

suit.

back opener What for jumps method a for fit responder when to two would his no-trump partner to you check recommend as

over a one-level major-suit

response? Is an artificial bid

needed?

The Wolff signoff uses three

clubs as a way to get out in three

of your own suit or in partner’s

suit. Failing that, one simple way

to check back is to play raising

partner’s minor as natural and

forcing, while using the other minor

searches for three-card support

or four cards in the other major.

Finally, transfers can be used here

— but though technically best, they

require proper agreements to be

in place.

partner after competitive free What raise partner’s after or is show introducing your auction? partner double view extras? opens on Does when a For raising new one example, the in suit a

heart two hearts two and clubs, the or double next should hand with one overcalls bid Q-J

s

7-2, h 10-6-5, d J-9-5, c Q-J-4?

There are some sequences

where you may elect to pass

when you would otherwise have

acted after the opponents have

overcalled. Here you would have

bid had RHO passed, but your bad

trumps and minimum hand with

defense and no offense make

passing just about acceptable. A

negative double at the two-level

should surely be stronger than this.