Aces on Bridge
Dear Mr. Wolff: A director made what I thought was a nonsensical ruling in a recent match. I tried to reason with him, but it made no difference. What can I do?
— Lawful Intervention, Tupelo, Mississippi
Answer: Remonstrating with the director will only get you into trouble. If you really think they have made a mistake, put your money where your mouth is and appeal the ruling. A board of impartial officials will look at the case and render their judgment, but beware! There may be penalties if they deem the appeal frivolous.
Dear Mr. Wolff: What would you do with ♠ A-KQ-J-9-6-2, ♥ 9-4, ♦ ---, ♣ 9-7-5-3after your partner opens a strong no-trump?
— Into the Wild, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Answer: I'd transfer to spades and then jump to four diamonds, setting spades as trump and showing short diamonds. This is by no means a typical hand for the bid, but partner should still look kindly upon rounded-suit values and devalue secondary honors in diamonds. He might worry about trumps, but if he has the cards you are after, he will realize you must have good spades, as there is not much else left!
Dear Mr. Wolff: Say you pick up ♠ K-Q-J-5-4, ♥ A, ♦ A-2, ♣ A-8-7-5-3 and open one spade. Your partner raises to two spades. What is your next move?
— Playing Strength, Mitchell, South Dakota
Answer: If my partner fits both black suits or has a club filler and an ace or king, slam looks feasible. I would start with a natural game-try of three clubs. If my partner raises clubs or jumps to game to show support, I will blast out slam and offer him the choice with six clubs. If he accepts the try via another route, I will go past four spades. However, I will not insist on slam, as he might have forced to game on any old maximum.
Dear Mr. Wolff: I never know whether a reverse shows extras in a contested auction. Are there any blanket rules I can follow?
— Level Pegging, Huntingdon, West Virginia
Answer: I think that reverses at the two-level should not promise any great extras when your right-hand opponent has bid. It may be necessary to get your suits in before the enemy jams up the auction. If your righthand opponent has passed, a reverse can show extras as usual. I would play that a reverse to the three-level does promise extras in any situation. Of course, this is really all a matter of partnership agreement.
Dear Mr. Wolff: Say your left-hand opponent opens one no-trump and your partner either doubles or bids two clubs to show a one-suiter. How should you play when the next hand bids two hearts? Does your answer depend on whether this is a transfer or not?
— Extended Principle, Wichita Falls, Texas
Answer: Here, I would play double as pass or correct of a natural call. Partner passes with length or bids his suit. If the call is a transfer, cue-bid the opponents' suit to get partner to bid his suit, and double to show values in the artificial call. In both cases, a bid of two no-trump should be a strong game-invitational relay.