May 21st, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 5 Comments
There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.
Douglas MacArthur
East |
North |
East-West |
♠ K Q 9
♥ 4
♦ K 10 7 6 3
♣ 9 6 5 2 |
West |
East |
♠ A J 8
♥ 9 7 2
♦ A 4 2
♣ J 10 8 7 |
♠ 10 6 2
♥ K J 10 8 5 3
♦ Q 5
♣ 4 3 |
South |
♠ 7 5 4 3
♥ A Q 6
♦ J 9 8
♣ A K Q |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
|
Pass |
1 NT |
Pass |
3♥* |
Dbl. |
3 NT |
All pass |
|
|
* Both minors, short hearts
♥2
There is no reason to look beyond your black suits on opening lead. Spades are an unbid suit — but either opponent might turn up with four. The advantage of a club is that your extra length and intermediates make it both more attacking and somewhat safer if partner produces any high card in the suit. As against that, East has bid the suit. I think a club feels right; five-card suits have so much more to offer.
LEAD WITH THE ACES
♠ A 7 5 4
♥ Q 3
♦ 9 5
♣ Q 10 6 4 2 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
|
1♣ |
Pass |
1♥ |
Pass |
1 NT |
All pass |
|
|
|
May 20th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, May 6th, 2012
The ACBL appeal booklets refers to good and bad tempo breaks. I thought they were all bad, by definition. Please explain the difference.
Slow Learner, Twin Falls, Idaho
The ACBL tournaments publish a summary of appeals here. When a player takes a long while to sign off or to double, he is generally conveying unauthorized information to his partner. This is a bad hesitation, and one should strive to avoid such actions. Conversely, many other slow actions do not convey a clear message of what you are thinking about. They are not giving unauthorized information.
Recently you ran a deal where the player in second seat doubled one spade with: ♠ K, ♥ K-10-6-2, ♦ A-K-Q-7-2, ♣ A-J-4. That player then removed a double of four spades by his partner to four no-trump. Was this Blackwood? If not, what did the call show?
Doubly Confused, Selma, Ala.
The four-no-trump bid should have been annotated as suggesting two possible strains in which to play — akin to the unusual no-trump, but here not specifically the minors. Whenever you remove a high-level double, you show a good hand of course. With a one-suiter you'd bid it; with two suits you announce it with an unusual no-trump call, then correct partner's choice if he picks the wrong one.
I'm responding with regard to the letter from the couple who want to learn to play bridge but have no resources where they live. "Bridge for Everyone," by D.W Crisfield, (Morris Book Publishing Co.) is a "Knack Made Easy" book. I know several beginner and intermediate bridge players who have found it very helpful, myself included.
Marian the Librarian, Princeton, N.J.
|
Thank you. I especially value my readers' opinions on issues like this. The graphics in "Bridge for Dummies" by Eddie Kantar are also helpful for beginners.
Holding ♠ K-7-4, ♥ Q-J-9-5, ♦ A-4, ♣ K-Q-10-2, I assume you would open one no-trump. When the next hand shows the majors and your RHO picks hearts, would you double? I did not do so, and the contract went three down. I felt it was an opportunity lost.
Lucy Locket, Miami, Fla.
You cannot double, at least not in my book. I play that as takeout, typically a hand with a maximum and a small doubleton in hearts — since I might be facing a Yarborough. Maybe if you pass, your partner could find a reopening double with short hearts and a six- or seven-count.
How should I respond to an opening bid of one of a minor when I hold both four-card majors and 6-9 HCP? I know it is standard to bid up the line, but if my partner has a balanced hand with four spades, he may bypass the spade suit to bid one no-trump. Is it reasonable for responder to bid one spade and then introduce the hearts?
Major Major, Tupelo, Miss.
I would never do this unless the spades were very strong and the hearts very weak. My partner would normally bid one spade over one heart with four or more clubs, and if he does rebid one no-trump with a square hand, the board may play just fine in that strain.
|
May 19th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 2 Comments
If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.
Laurence Peter
West |
North |
Both |
♠ K Q J 2
♥ —
♦ A K 6 2
♣ A K Q 10 6 |
West |
East |
♠ 4
♥ A K J 7 5 4 3
♦ 8
♣ J 9 5 3 |
♠ 10 8 7 3
♥ Q 9 6
♦ Q J 10 9 4
♣ 4 |
South |
♠ A 9 6 5
♥ 10 8 2
♦ 7 5 3
♣ 8 7 2 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
3♥ |
Dbl. |
4♥ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dbl. |
Pass |
4♠ |
Pass |
6♠ |
All pass |
♥K
Despite the absence of controls and high cards, you are best off raising to two hearts now, rather than passing and hoping to get a second chance. You do have some playing strength, and raising here does not promise the earth. When both sides have a fit, that is the time to bid more, not less.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ 10 8 7 3
♥ Q 9 6
♦ Q J 10 9 4
♣ 4 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
1♣ |
1♥ |
2♣ |
? |
|
|
|
May 18th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 5 Comments
Praise is the best diet for us, after all.
Sydney Smith
East |
North |
East-West |
♠ A 10
♥ A 9 5 3 2
♦ A K
♣ 8 6 4 2 |
West |
East |
♠ —
♥ 10 8
♦ J 9 7 3 2
♣ Q 10 9 7 5 3 |
♠ K 9 4 3
♥ K Q J 7 6
♦ Q 4
♣ K J |
South |
♠ Q J 8 7 6 5 2
♥ 4
♦ 10 8 6 5
♣ A |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
|
1♥ |
4♠ |
Pass |
6♠ |
All pass |
♥10
Some people would tell you that they know whether it is right to open one no-trump or one heart with this hand. I don't feel strongly either way, but my general approach is to open a five-card major when I have a 5-4 pattern in the appropriate range. This hand is something of an exception — the strength of the two doubletons and the absence of intermediates both argue for the no-trump call.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ A 10
♥ A 9 5 3 2
♦ A K
♣ 8 6 4 2 |
May 17th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 4 Comments
When I hoped I feared, Since I hoped I dared.
Emily Dickinson
South |
North |
Both |
♠ A 6
♥ Q 10 9 8 3 2
♦ J 6
♣ 8 5 4 |
West |
East |
♠ 10 9 8
♥ A 7 6 4
♦ 10 9 7 2
♣ Q 2 |
♠ Q J 7 5
♥ J
♦ A K 8 5 4
♣ 10 9 7 |
South |
♠ K 4 3 2
♥ K 5
♦ Q 3
♣ A K J 6 3 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1 NT |
Pass |
4♦* |
Dbl. |
Pass |
Pass |
Rdbl.** |
Pass |
4♥ |
All pass |
|
|
*Texas transfer to hearts
**Re-transfer
♦10
Although you have a maximum hand for your first call, the combination of the negative double on your left (suggesting spade length), coupled with your partner's silence, argue for caution. I don't think you are likely to get badly hurt if you bid two spades now, but I believe you should pass and hope your partner will be able to balance if he has values and the two-diamond bid comes back to him.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ K 4 3 2
♥ K 5
♦ Q 3
♣ A K J 6 3 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
|
1♦ |
2♣ |
Dbl. |
Pass |
2♦ |
? |
|
|
|
May 16th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 10 Comments
Quarry mine, blessed am I In the luck of the chase. Comes the deer to my singing.
Navajo hunting song
West |
North |
North-South Teams |
♠ J 10 6
♥ 8 6 2
♦ Q J
♣ A K Q J 6 |
West |
East |
♠ A K Q 8 5
♥ J 9 7 3
♦ K 5
♣ 10 5 |
♠ 9 3 2
♥ 4
♦ 10 9 7 6 4 2
♣ 8 7 2 |
South |
♠ 7 4
♥ A K Q 10 5
♦ A 8 3
♣ 9 4 3 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
1♠ |
2♣ |
Pass |
2♥ |
Pass |
3♥ |
Pass |
4♥ |
All pass |
|
|
♠K
This is a difficult hand to evaluate. You have enough to commit the hand to game in spades, but if you believe you have enough to make a mild slam-try (which is aggressive but certainly not unreasonable), then you should bid four hearts now. This has nothing to do with presence or absence of a heart control, but simply shows opening-bid values in a raise to at least four spades.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ J 10 6
♥ 8 6 2
♦ Q J
♣ A K Q J 6 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
1♠ |
3♥ |
? |
|
|
|
May 15th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 7 Comments
My family pride is something inconceivable. I can't help it. I was born sneering.
W.S. Gilbert
West |
North |
Both |
♠ Q 8 3 2
♥ A 6 5 4
♦ 5 2
♣ K 9 8 |
West |
East |
♠ 10 5 4
♥ 3
♦ 8 7 4 3
♣ Q J 10 7 2 |
♠ K J 6
♥ K 7
♦ K J 10 9
♣ A 6 4 3 |
South |
♠ A 9 7
♥ Q J 10 9 8 2
♦ A Q 6
♣ 5 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1♦ |
1♥ |
3♦ |
3♥ |
Pass |
4♥ |
All pass |
|
|
♣Q
The best way to make a slam-try here is to jump to four clubs. This is a splinter raise of spades, suggesting short clubs, and lets your partner evaluate his assets accurately. A simple forcing raise of spades might work well, but the key may well be whether there are wasted values in clubs.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ A 10 7
♥ Q J 10 9 8 2
♦ A Q 6
♣ 5 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
1♠ |
Pass |
2♥ |
Pass |
2♠ |
Pass |
? |
|
|
|
May 14th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Monday, April 30th, 2012
It is incident to physicians, I am afraid, beyond all other men, to mistake subsequence for consequence.
Samuel Johnson
North |
North |
East-West |
♠ A J 5 3
♥ K 10
♦ J 4
♣ A Q 9 8 3 |
West |
East |
♠ K 10 7 4 2
♥ 7 4 2
♦ 8 5 2
♣ J 4 |
♠ Q 9 6
♥ A 5
♦ A K Q 10
♣ 7 6 5 2 |
South |
♠ 8
♥ Q J 9 8 6 3
♦ 9 7 6 3
♣ K 10 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
1♣ |
Pass |
1♥ |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
2♥ |
Pass |
3♥ |
All pass |
♦2
On auctions of this sort, when you have no easy lead (e.g., an honor sequence or a five-carder), you tend to look for safety. Here it feels right to lead hearts; dummy rates to have either one heart or two, and as long as partner has any heart bigger than the eight, you should not cost your side a trick. If dummy has a singleton or doubleton honor, you surely rate to build your side quick tricks.
LEAD WITH THE ACES
♠ J 9 2
♥ J 10 7 4
♦ Q 5
♣ A 6 5 3 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
1♣ |
Pass |
1♥ |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
1 NT |
All pass |
|
|
|
May 13th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, April 29th, 2012
Where will the next world championships be, and how will I be able to follow them online?
Cable Subscriber, Tucson, Ariz.
It pains me to admit that the venue for the championships has not yet been determined. It was planned for the UK to coincide with the Olympics there, but it is now more likely to be in France or Italy. Watch this space — and if you want to follow the contest live, you can listen to live commentary on BBO and livespring. We DO know that in 2013 the world championships will be in Bali.
My LHO held ♠ A-J-9, ♥ A-4, ♦ K-Q-8, ♣ Q-5-4-3-2 and overcalled one no-trump over my one-heart opening bid. That got him to a hopeless three no-trump contract with three small hearts facing the ace. What do you think about his choice?
Weak Link, Newark, N.J.
I would prefer to double with this hand because of the danger that my opponents have a long suit where I have a delicate stopper. By contrast, switch my red suits and I would bid one no-trump if my RHO had opened one diamond. The danger associated with a one-diamond opening bid is far lower.
Should you play Drury to show values and support for partner if the opponents double your partner's opening bid of a major? I understand there is a convention to handle that.
Drury on the Down-Low, North Bay, Ontario
|
Marty Bergen invented a convention called Bromad (Bergen Raises after a MAjor is Doubled). Bids of two clubs and two diamonds in response — whether by a passed hand or an unpassed hand — show 6-9 high-card points and three or four trumps respectively. There are many variations on this theme.
My partner was in third chair and after I opened two diamonds the next player bid two hearts. He held ♠ J-5, ♥ Q-10-9-4, ♦ J-5-4, ♣ A-Q-6-2 and passed, because he had good defense to hearts. This did not work out well since the opponents got together in spades. Any comments?
Gumball Rally, Sunbury, Pa.
The reason why it is clear-cut (some would say automatic, but I've been told that one should not use that word no matter how much I think it to be the case) is that raising diamonds makes it so much harder for the opponents to judge competitive auctions, and to locate a black-suit fit if they have one.
If the opponents double your partner's Stayman inquiry, how can you show a stopper? And how should you handle the continuations?
Fighting Back, San Francisco, Calif.
If the opponents double Stayman, you should redouble when you want to play there, and bid only when you have a stopper. Thus passing denies a stopper, letting responder redouble to reinitiate Stayman. If responder bids two diamonds after your pass of your double or redouble, that should be natural and nonforcing.
|
May 12th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 2 Comments
Love your neighbor, yet pull not down your hedge.
George Herbert
North |
North |
North-South |
♠ 8 2
♥ A 8 6 4
♦ 8 4
♣ A Q 10 8 2 |
West |
East |
♠ Q 7 6 4 3
♥ K J 7 2
♦ 7 6 3
♣ 7 |
♠ 9 5
♥ 9
♦ A J 10 9 5
♣ K 9 5 4 3 |
South |
♠ A K J 10
♥ Q 10 5 3
♦ K Q 2
♣ J 6 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
Pass |
2 NT* |
Dbl. |
3♦ |
Dbl. |
Pass |
3 NT |
All pass |
|
|
*Minors
♦7
I recommend that you use the call of two hearts here as natural and nonforcing — less than an invitation. The logic is that with invitational values or better, you can bid the new minor (here, two clubs) as a forcing relay asking for three-card spade support or four hearts. If you do that, a jump to three hearts should show 5-5 with invitational values.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ Q 7 6 4 3
♥ K J 7 2
♦ 7 6 3
♣ 7 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
1♦ |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
1 NT |
Pass |
? |
|
|
|
|
This is the normal time of year for the Cavendish tournament in Las Vegas, but this year the event will be held in Monaco in the fall. I shall be running deals all week that focus on the players in last year's event. Here is a deal that saw the winners from 2011 chalk up what seemed to be a normal if mildly fortunate result. But there is more to it than that.
North-South actually play a strong club, so I’ve simplified the auction to a standard sequence. The play in three no-trump saw declarer, Kit Woolsey, win the first heart and pass the diamond jack to East. Back came a heart, ducked, and a club shift. Woolsey won and drove out the diamond ace, and when both aces were onside, he had nine somewhat fortunate tricks — or was there more to it than that?
Contrast what happened when Justin Lall and Kevin Bathurst were West and East respectively. Since South had opened a 14-16 no-trump, North passed initially, Bathurst balanced with two hearts, and North reopened with two no-trump, a nonforcing call suggesting the minors, which South judged to pass.
The heart lead was won by South, who played the diamond jack. Lall hopped up with the diamond ace and cleared the hearts. Now declarer had to guess if East had the bare diamond queen or the spade ace, and he got it wrong by repeating the diamond finesse — down two!
Lall’s defense protected his partner’s entry and deserved the result it achieved.