THE ACES

I picked up J-9-2, J-10-8-7, J-5-3, A-10-8 and heard my partner open one diamond in third seat. The next player overcalled two clubs, and I wasn’t sure whether to make a negative double, raise diamonds or pass. What do you think?

This is not a terrible example of an off-shape double, but you should reflect on the fact that partner did open in third chair, so there is always some question of whether he has a full opener. If you pass two clubs and your partner sells out as well, you probably have no great fit. If partner is short in clubs, he will reopen with a double or suit bid.

When is it prudent or acceptable to pass your partner’s one- club or one-diamond opening bid? Does the form of scoring matter for this decision?

With balanced subminimum hands vulnerable, there is little merit in responding. With six HCP or more, you always respond; so it is the 4-6 HCP hands with a major and no fit where you would tend to respond to a minor. Similarly, you might pass a major-suit opener, since you already have found a playable spot. Non-vulnerable, the upsides of bidding include the tactical (stealing the hand or having them miss a game), finding a better fit or reaching game, or reducing your minus score.

I have a theoretical problem when holding 5-6 pattern with a longer minor. Holding, for example, Q-6, A-J-9-5-3, —,

K-Q-9-8-3-2, should I include distribution points to make this hand strong enough for a reverse, or should I take a pragmatic approach by opening one heart and then repeating the clubs if necessary?

Reverses do not specifically guarantee a great hand; extra shape may allow you to upgrade certain hands. With a touching two-suiter and 5-6 shape with a minimum opening, I would tend to open the higher suit. When the six-carder is good and the five-carder bad, and the suits are non-touching, that may be too much of a distortion. Here, I might start with one club — who’s to say partner won’t start by bidding diamonds?