Aces on Bridge
Dear Mr. Wolff: What software would you recommend for a person like myself, who would like to play bridge on his computer?
— Tech Savvy, Galveston, Texas
ANSWER: Bridgemaster 2000 is an excellent program with declarer play problems for all abilities. It has recently become available at Bridge Base Online, the primary website for online play. I would wholeheartedly recommend that site.
Dear Mr. Wolff: I recently witnessed a bidding sequence I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. My lefthand opponent opened one no-trump, then my righthand opponent transferred to hearts and, when his unsuspecting partner completed the transfer, jumped to five no-trump. How would you interpret that?
— In Shock, Vancouver, Washington
ANSWER: A direct raise of one or two no-trump to five no-trump might be played as a quantitative grandslam invite. After a Jacoby transfer, play five no-trump as “pick-a-slam.” There are no forcing waiting bids available here in standard methods, and it may be better to involve partner in the final decision. Your right-hand opponent was showing five hearts and a balanced hand, offering the choice between six hearts and six no-trump. An eightcard fit may be best here. If you want to employ the Grand Slam Force, use a Texas (four-level) transfer first.
Dear Mr. Wolff: In one of your prior publications, you advocated playing new-suit responses to an overcall as encouraging but nonforcing. Have your views changed, and do the priorities change when the next hand gets involved?
— Under Investigation, San Francisco
ANSWER: As a general principle, when your righthand opponent passes, I suspect more people these days play fourth hand’s new suits as a one-round force rather than constructive. But when everyone has joined in, bids are nonforcing, though they could still be based on a good hand. It is often necessary to stretch to show your long suit in a competitive auction, or you may lose it for good.
Dear Mr. Wolff: A wellknown player preaches that one should not raise partner’s major-suit pre-empt when one has exceptional length in the other major. Is this a sound policy?
— Raising the Stakes, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
ANSWER: When responder has close to opening values, for example with 3=5=3=2 shape opposite partner’s weak two spades, it is acceptable to pass. There is much to be said for not over-pre-empting when your side holds length in both majors, as the opponents will have to bid all the way to the five-level to make a minor-suit game. You can always compete to three spades later if the opponents bid in your short suit.
Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner has been bidding on garbage more and more often lately. Just last night, he responded to my one-diamond opening with ♠ K-10, ♥ J-9-5-2, ♦ 8-4, ♣ 10-95-4-3. Is there a remedy?
— Head in the Clouds, Billings, Montana
ANSWER: These days, there is more of an emphasis on pre-emption and making it hard for the opponents to get into the bidding than there used to be. Also, the decrease in popularity of strong two-openings has made it necessary to open very strong hands at the one-level, so players are afraid to pass with even as much as a four-count. It may be hard to turn back the tide in this matter!