DEAR MR. WOLFF: If partner opens one spade and then jumps to three hearts over your one-no-trump response, what sort of hand does your bid of three spades show?
-- Preference,
Tucson, Ariz.
DEAR READER: This shows at least a doubleton in spades. It should be your default response with two spades and fewer than four hearts -- unless you have both minors under lock and key, in which case you can bid three no-trump. Your partner may have six spades, after all, or perhaps there is a hole in one of the minors, which would allow you to play a 5-2 spade fit. Partner will typically bid three no-trump over this if he has 5-4 shape, knowing you will convert back to four spades with three-card support.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: What would you do with SPADES Q-J-7-6-3, HEARTS 10-8-6-5-3, DIAMONDS ---, CLUBS J-10-4 after your partner opened one club and the next hand doubled?
-- Limit the Hand,
Twin Falls, Idaho
DEAR READER: Taking a free bid over the double ought to show a proper hand. You could bid one spade, but you should feel a bit guilty making a second bid with only a 4-count. I think there is a better plan. I would pass to show poor values. The next player is bound to bid diamonds, after which I can come alive with a bid in one of my suits, or even a diamond cue bid, which logically might be interpreted as a shapely takeout of diamonds. Your partner will be well-positioned to decide the final contract.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I held SPADES 7-6, HEARTS 7-3, DIAMONDS 9-3, CLUBS K-J-9-7-6-4-3, first-in at game all. I decided to pass, and partner opened one diamond. The next hand overcalled one spade. Is this enough to bid two clubs?
-- Power Shortage,
Jackson, Tenn.
DEAR READER: In first seat, I would not open three clubs with a 7-2-2-2 shape and a mediocre suit unless non-vulnerable. I would like to show the suit on the second round, but two clubs should show more than this (about an 8-count or better). Unless I played three clubs now as preemptive, I would pass. I do not believe jumps by passed hands should show the same hand as one that you might already have opened.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: Should allowances be made for players who fall ill during a tournament? If they do play, would you take it easy on them if they revoke or bid out of turn?
-- Doctor's Orders,
Houston, Texas
DEAR READER: I think that as long as the player in question would not do damage to self or others by playing, they should be allowed to participate. It is then up to the opponents if they want to give leeway. Of course, if a player is ill these days, is it in the field's interest to allow them to continue?
DEAR MR. WOLFF: If my right-hand opponent opens one diamond and I overcall one spade, what should my partner's three-club bid in response mean?
-- By Agreement,
Huntington, W.Va.
DEAR READER: This depends on whether a two-club advance would be forcing or not. If not, three clubs must be natural and forcing. If two clubs is forcing, there is no need for three clubs to have the same meaning. That should become a fit jump then, showing clubs and spade support. A typical hand would be five decent clubs with real trump support and invitational values.
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