May 2nd, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 5 Comments
Conscience is the inner voice which warns us somebody may be looking.
H.L. Mencken
South |
North |
Both |
♠ 6 3
♥ A Q 10
♦ A 7 5 4 2
♣ 5 4 2 |
West |
East |
♠ 8 5 2
♥ 7 6 4 3 2
♦ 9
♣ Q 10 8 3 |
♠ K Q J 9 4
♥ 8 5
♦ J 10 6 3
♣ K 6 |
South |
♠ A 10 7
♥ K J 9
♦ K Q 8
♣ A J 9 7 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1♣ |
Pass |
1♦ |
1♠ |
2 NT |
Pass |
3 NT |
All pass |
♠2
Your choice is an invitational three diamonds – you have too much for a simple two diamond call, or a call in no-trump. You have too much for a one no-trump bid and not quite enough for a call of two no-trump, though it is close. Since three no-trump is more likely to make than five diamonds perhaps the small overbid in no-trump is best.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ 6 3
♥ A Q 10
♦ A 7 5 4 2
♣ 5 4 2 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
1♥ |
Dbl. |
Pass |
? |
|
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May 1st, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 4 Comments
The outcome of any serious research can only be to make two questions grow where only one grew before.
Thorstein Veblen
South |
North |
East-West |
♠ Q J
♥ A 10 6 5 4
♦ A Q 4 2
♣ K 4 |
West |
East |
♠ 8 5 2
♥ 7
♦ J 10 9 5 3
♣ A 10 8 6 |
♠ 10 9 4 3
♥ Q 8 2
♦ 8
♣ Q 9 7 5 2 |
South |
♠ A K 7 6
♥ K J 9 3
♦ K 7 6
♣ J 3 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1 NT |
Pass |
2♦ |
Pass |
3♥ |
Pass |
4 NT |
Pass |
5♥ |
Pass |
6♥ |
All pass |
♣A
You may look at this 16-count and assume you have extra values. But in a sense, with your doubleton spade honors not pulling their full weight, you have really nothing to spare in high-cards, and certainly nothing extra in terms of shape. Pass two hearts, and be happy to stay low.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ Q J
♥ A 10 6 5 4
♦ A Q 4 2
♣ K 4 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1♥ |
Pass |
1 NT |
Pass |
2♦ |
Pass |
2♥ |
Pass |
? |
|
|
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April 30th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 4 Comments
Let us be moral. Let us contemplate existence.
Charles Dickens
South |
North |
Both |
♠ A 6 2
♥ Q 6 3 2
♦ 9 6 3
♣ Q 10 4 |
West |
East |
♠ K Q J 10 7 4
♥ 7
♦ A Q 2
♣ 9 8 7 |
♠ 9 8
♥ 10 5 4
♦ J 10 7 4
♣ 6 5 3 2 |
South |
♠ 5 3
♥ A K J 9 8
♦ K 8 5
♣ A K J |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1♥ |
1♠ |
2♥ |
Pass |
4♥ |
All pass |
|
|
♠K
The opening lead here is more about temperament than anything else. Some prefer to go passive and not give up a trick; others go for instant gratification by leading a diamond in the hope of cashing out or setting up that suit. Put my vote in with the diamond leaders; but don't ask me to justify it.
LEAD WITH THE ACES
♠ Q 5 3
♥ 7 4 2
♦ K 9 5 3
♣ A J 4 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
1♣ |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
2♠ |
Pass |
4♠ |
All pass |
|
|
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April 29th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 2 Comments
Recently I opened one club and my LHO overcalled two spades, which was passed out, going down two or three tricks. My partner said that because we were playing negative doubles, I was forced to bid. Since I had a minimum opener and flat distribution (two spades, three hearts and four cards in each minor), I could envision many hands where forcing partner to bid at the three-level would be disastrous. Any comments?
Sellout, Dodge City, Kan.
You are NOT forced to reopen, but typically will do so even if minimum IF you have shortage in their suit. So with two small spades I might reopen here, but with the doubleton spade king I'd expect partner not to have the penalty double, so might let two spades go. Then again, I might still bid with anything approaching extra values. Color me hyperaggressive.
We had a recent key-card auction with hearts as the agreed suit and could not locate the trump queen accurately. Can you recommend a pattern of responses after the queen ask? Should any bid other than a bid of the agreed suit promise the queen?
Queen for a Day, Atlanta, Ga.
After the response of the first or second step (whichever way you play these) here are the simplest set of responses possible to the step one relay for the queen – though remember that five of the trump suit by the inquirer implies too many keycards are missing. In response, the lowest level of the trump suit says 'No trump queen'. If you have it, but no king, bid six of the trump suit but if you have the trump queen and additional kings, cue-bid the cheapest king you have.
I play rubber bridge with a group and after a strong two spade opening, responder answered four spades with this hand: ♠ J-10-4-2, ♥ 9-4-3-2, ♦ A-7-5-4, ♣ 4. I thought her hand was strong hand opposite a strong two-bid and thought she should bid three spades. She contended it was the right bid because it only made 11 tricks.
Monday-Morning Quarterback, Fremont, Calif.
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You are right that a jump to four spades DENIES an ace. Even with a minimum hand, such as this one, you had bette do something else. Here, a jump to four clubs would show a singleton club and a spade raise, but perhaps a slightly better hand than this. (For sure, that would be fine with the heart queen in addition.)
When might you play a genuine line as opposed to playing for a defensive error?
Larkspur, Panama City, Fla.
I hate to give up on a genuine line by playing for nothing but a slip on defense. However, if I can see a line of play that I might fall for myself were I in the defender's shoes, I'd give it a whirl. Quite often a pressure line (making someone decide whether to take an honor or duck it) has far better chances than the percentages associated with the play.
My partner held ♠ J-10-9-4, ♥ K-Q-8-3, ♦ Q-4, ♣ Q-J-4 and heard me open two no-trump. He used Stayman and got a three-spade response. Now he found what I thought was quite an intelligent bid when he jumped to five spades. I thought I should bid slam since I had four spades to the ace-king, but the finesse lost and we also had an ace to lose. Was there a better route?
Inspector Gadget, Worcester, Mass.
One sensible agreement to have in this sequence is that a bid of four hearts over three spades shows the values for a slam-try in spades with four trump. Even this action is not an underbid, given the lack of trump honors and controls. However, this will let opener decide whether he is slam-suitable, in which case he can ask for aces and find out the right level to play at, or sign off in four spades.
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April 28th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, April 14th, 2012
While clearness is a virtue of style, perfect explicitness is not a necessary virtue.
Arthur Symons
North |
North |
Both |
♠ Q J 8 7 5 4
♥ K 5 3
♦ A
♣ K 7 4 |
West |
East |
♠ K 3
♥ Q 10 9
♦ K J 9 7
♣ 10 9 8 3 |
♠ A 6 2
♥ J 8 4
♦ 10 8 3 2
♣ J 6 2 |
South |
♠ 10 9
♥ A 7 6 2
♦ Q 6 5 4
♣ A Q 5 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
1♠ |
Pass |
2♦ |
Pass |
2♠ |
Pass |
3 NT |
All pass |
|
|
♣9
Facing a one-level overcall with a 12-count, you can't be sure your side even has the majority of high points. A jump to two no-trump would suggest a somewhat better hand. (With the spade jack in addition, you might risk the call.) If you bid one no-trump, you'd be showing about 8-12, and with any luck you would hear your partner bid on if he had extra shape or high-cards.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ 10 9
♥ A 7 6 2
♦ Q 6 5 4
♣ A Q 5 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
1♥ |
1♠ |
Pass |
? |
|
|
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April 27th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 11 Comments
I can find nothing lowly in the universe.
A.R. Ammons
South |
North |
Neither |
♠ 6 2
♥ 7 5 3
♦ Q 10 8 3
♣ A K Q 6 |
West |
East |
♠ K Q J 9 4
♥ 6 4
♦ 7 5
♣ 10 5 4 2 |
♠ 10 8 5 3
♥ K 9 8 2
♦ A 9 4
♣ J 9 |
South |
♠ A 7
♥ A Q J 10
♦ K J 6 2
♣ 8 7 3 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1 NT |
Pass |
3 NT |
All pass |
♠K
In standard American, you'd bid four no-trump to invite slam with no four-card major. For an extra wrinkle, if you play Texas transfers (four diamonds and four hearts show six-card heart and spade suits), a four-spade call can be used to show a balanced invitation with both four-card minors — in other words, exactly this hand. So a direct four-no-trump response will suggest a very flat hand.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ 6 2
♥ 7 5 3
♦ Q 10 8 3
♣ A K Q 6 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
2 NT |
Pass |
? |
|
|
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April 26th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, April 12th, 2012
I can stand a waste of praise.
R.S. Surtees
South |
North |
East-West |
♠ A J 2
♥ J 10 7 4
♦ Q 5
♣ A 6 5 3 |
West |
East |
♠ Q 7 4
♥ Q 9 6 3
♦ A J 9 7 4
♣ 7 |
♠ K 10 8
♥ 8 5 2
♦ 10 8 3
♣ Q 9 8 4 |
South |
♠ 9 6 5 3
♥ A K
♦ K 6 2
♣ K J 10 2 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1♣ |
Pass |
1♥ |
Pass |
1 NT |
Pass |
3 NT |
All pass |
♦7
You must distinguish what you should do when your RHO passes over one heart and what you should do if he competes further. You can raise to two hearts in competition — that shows very little extra beyond four trumps. However, if you raise freely when East passes, that would be an ace more than a minimum, with real game interest facing a seven-count, say. So you should pass now.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ A J 2
♥ J 10 7 4
♦ Q 5
♣ A 6 5 3 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
|
1♦ |
Dbl. |
Pass |
1♥ |
Pass |
? |
|
|
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April 25th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
Doubts are more cruel than the worst of truths.
Moliere
South |
North |
North-South |
♠ K Q 9 6 5
♥ A J 2
♦ A 3
♣ K 6 4 |
West |
East |
♠ A 4 3
♥ 8 5
♦ J 9 8 5
♣ Q J 10 8 |
♠ 10 8 7
♥ 10 9 7 4 3
♦ 10 7
♣ 9 5 3 |
South |
♠ J 2
♥ K Q 6
♦ K Q 6 4 2
♣ A 7 2 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1 NT |
Pass |
2♥ |
Pass |
2♠ |
Pass |
5 NT |
Pass |
6♦ |
Pass |
6 NT |
All pass |
♣Q
There are two attractive choices here. You might jump to three no-trump, suggesting a balanced hand with a good heart stop. Or you can bid two diamonds, natural and forcing, planning to bid no-trump later. I strongly prefer the second choice, since we might find out about an absence of spade stops for no-trump, or we might get to a club or diamond slam.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ J 2
♥ K Q 6
♦ K Q 6 4 2
♣ A 7 2 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
|
1♣ |
1♥ |
? |
|
|
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April 24th, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ 8 Comments
Even a sheet of paper has two sides.
Japanese saying
South |
North |
East-West |
♠ A Q 10 9 7 2
♥ A 4
♦ 5 4
♣ 8 7 2 |
West |
East |
♠ J 5 4
♥ J 9 3 2
♦ Q 10 8
♣ J 10 5 |
♠ K 8 6 3
♥ K
♦ 7 3 2
♣ A K 9 6 3 |
South |
♠ —
♥ Q 10 8 7 6 5
♦ A K J 9 6
♣ Q 4 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
1♥ |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
2♦ |
Pass |
3♠ |
Pass |
4♦ |
Pass |
4♥ |
All pass |
♣J
A simple call of two clubs is reasonable, as is a double. This would not be for penalties, but show the fourth suit, clubs, and tolerance for partner's suit, together with decent values. Your trump support may be on the feeble side, but your opening values probably compensate for that.
BID WITH THE ACES
♠ K 8 6 3
♥ K
♦ 7 3 2
♣ A K 9 6 3 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
1♦ |
1♥ |
1♠ |
? |
|
|
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April 23rd, 2012 ~ Bobby Wolff ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Monday, April 9th, 2012
No lesson seems to be so deeply inculcated by the experience of life as that you never should trust experts.
Lord Salisbury
West |
North |
Both |
♠ A 10 8 5
♥ 6 3
♦ A 8 2
♣ A J 8 2 |
West |
East |
♠ 6
♥ K Q J 10 9 4 2
♦ Q 6 3
♣ 7 3 |
♠ J 9
♥ 8 7 5
♦ 10 7 5 4
♣ Q 10 9 6 |
South |
♠ K Q 7 4 3 2
♥ A
♦ K J 9
♣ K 5 4 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
3♥ |
Dbl. |
Pass |
5 NT* |
Pass |
6♣ |
Pass |
6♠ |
All pass |
|
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*Pick-a-slam
♥K
The spades do not offer much hope, given your weak intermediates and the fact that your RHO has four of them. So the choice is an obedient heart or an undisciplined club. I'm prepared to risk my partner's wrath by leading a club in the hope that I can find partner at home there. You only live once!
LEAD WITH THE ACES
♠ Q 8 5 3 3
♥ 6
♦ 8 2
♣ K J 8 3 2 |
South |
West |
North |
East |
|
1♦ |
1♥ |
Dbl. |
Pass |
3♦ |
Pass |
3 NT |
All pass |
|
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An avoidance play is declarer's attempt to deny one opponent the lead. This could be because we fear a shift from one opponent but not the other, or equally, as in today's deal, one opponent has winners to cash.
Look at the play today in three no-trump, remembering that your target is to take nine tricks, not 10!
West obediently leads a spade. As declarer, you must duck the first two spades to cut the defenders’ communications. You win the third spade and should work out that you only need four diamond tricks for the contract, but you must keep East off play if he has four diamonds. To do that, you do not mind investing an overtrick.
You cross to dummy by leading a low heart to the 10. Now comes a diamond toward your hand. If East plays low, you insert the eight and have achieved your target of bringing in the diamond suit safely.
If East divines your intention and inserts the 10 on the first diamond, you take the trick in hand and lead a heart to the queen. Then you repeat the process in diamonds, planning again to lead low to your eight, finessing against East’s jack. This insures that you make nine tricks, since if West has a second diamond, the suit must be splitting for you, and you can overtake your remaining diamond honor with the ace and run the suit.