Aces on bridge
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What is the minimum strength required for a Michaels cuebid? For instance is there any vulnerability at which you would bid two diamonds over one diamond to show the majors with SPADES Q- 98- 3- 2, HEARTS J- 10- 9- 7- 4, DIAMONDS Q- 9, CLUBS A? If you wouldn’t cue- bid, would you overcall? Would you pass?
Lightly Does It
DEAR LIGHTLY: I would show the majors with a call of two diamonds if nonvulnerable, but make a one- spade overcall and hope to get hearts in later if vulnerable. I would never pass here. Note: To cue- bid over one spade to show hearts and a minor does require a somewhat better hand than this, even if nonvulnerable, since partner has to act at the three- level.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What is the best approach to use when partner opens one club and the next hand overcalls one notrump? Should one use natural bids or artificial ones? Specifically, how would you cope with SPADES J- 10- 7- 2, HEARTS A- Q- 9- 5- 3, DIAMONDS 7- 3, CLUBS 9- 4? Would it be too aggressive to double here?
Sunny Side Up
DEAR SUNNY: There is a good case for saying that the only person who has shown clubs here is your RHO, not partner. If so, and many feel that way, then it does make sense to use what some call Mitchell Stayman, where a bid of two clubs by you would now show the majors. Partner is allowed to exercise discretion and pass with long clubs and fewer than three cards in each major, or to ask you to bid your better major by bidding two diamonds.
Incidentally, you are a queen short of a penalty double here.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I have read about using artificial continuations over a two- club opening and a two- diamond response. Can you let me know if there is anything simple you would recommend?
Powerball
DEAR POWERBALL: Eric Kokish’s excellent suggestion is to retain opener’s direct two- no- trump bid as 22- 24. All higher bids are natural in the minors, but show long diamonds and four spades in the majors. He suggests using the two- heart rebid by opener as a puppet to two spades. Now opener’s two- no- trump call is forcing, and delayed bids at the three- level by opener show hearts and a second suit.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What was the right call for fourth hand, holding SPADES A- Q- 2, HEARTS J- 7, DIAMONDS K- Q7- 4- 3- 2, CLUBS Q- 4 whenmy partner opened one diamond and the next hand bid two hearts? I felt I had to invent a club suit because I thought I needed a heart control to bid three hearts. Is this so?
Spaced Out
DEAR SPACED: When the opponents interfere, a cue- bid below three no- trump asks for a stopper rather than promising one. Here, you are perfectly placed to raise diamonds if partner cannot bid no- trump himself. And since the cue- bid almost always delivers support for partner and a good hand, he can aim high if he has extra values.