Hand of the day #280
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff How do you plan to make four hearts after West...
Bobby Wolff answers your questions
I play a Landy two-club overcall of one no-trump in my regular partnership. If the next player doubles this bid, showing points, what do advancer’s calls mean?
Major Malfunction, Casper, Wyo.
Answer: Redouble
In positions of this ilk, where the hand belongs to the opponents, I like to play redouble as asking partner to bid something. So, that is the call I would make with no preference for either of partner’s majors here, or if I wanted to offer diamonds en route. This frees up two diamonds as a natural bid, suggesting six, while pass is also an offer to play, in clubs. It pays to be able to escape into any of the four suits, especially if partner has not guaranteed real shape.
You hold:
Everyone vulnerable, and hear partner open one diamond. The next player jumps to four spades, passed back to partner who doubles. What say you?
Trump Trick, Huntington, W.Va.
Answer: Partner’s double is for take-out, but it is unlikely we can make game when I have so little. Defending surely offers our best chance of a plus score. I have a spade trick and maybe more. It could even be that a heart to the ace and a heart ruff followed by a lead back to partner for a third heart might generate a further trump trick for my spade jack.
What is the proper alerting procedure in a competitive game?
Public Announcement, Anchorage, Alaska
Answer: Use the alert card
The idea is to make both your opponents aware if partner’s call carries an unexpected meaning (but only to your screenmate if playing with screens). The correct way to do it is to use the alert card, but if your box does not contain one, say ‘alert’ or tap the table.
I know it is a good tactic to interfere in the opponents’ auction when they open a strong two clubs, but how far should I take this?
ODR, Worcester, Mass.
Answer: Do not bid with balanced hands, which are stronger on defense and less effective on offense. By all means jump with very long suits, irrespective of strength, and overcall at the two-level with a six-card suit, to interrupt their well-practiced sequence. With five-card suits, only overcall when your holding is strong, or you have a singleton on the side.
I have seen mention of ‘odd-even discards’ on some of my opponents’ convention cards, but I still do not understand what they are. Could you enlighten me?
Italian Style, Great Falls, Mont.
Answer: This is where the first discard of an odd card is encouraging that suit, while an even card is discouraging and suit preference. So, a high even card shows a liking for the higher of the other suits, while a small one shows preference for the lower suit. They are also known as Italian discards. Aside from the fact that one is not always dealt the ideal cards to signal with, I prefer not to give so much information away, or indeed to think about so much in one go!