Hand of the day #242
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff The old-fashioned textbooks tell you to lead k...
Bobby Wolff answers your questions
My partner had:
Vulnerable against not, and heard his RHO open one club in third seat. He passed, then passed again when the one no-trump response came around to him. Alas, third hand had psyched and we had a game on. I had a nine-count with five spades in a 5-3-3-2 shape. Were we just unlucky?
Like Lawrence, Durango, Colo.
Answer: 1♥
I think the solution is for your partner to overcall one heart on his strong four-card suit. This is a once-in-a-blue-moon situation vulnerable, but passing throughout could be costly, as you saw. Incidentally, overcalling one no-trump here is also not absurd.
I picked up a virus towards the end of a recent tournament and found it difficult to concentrate. Have you any advice on how to handle this sort of situation?
Woolly Head, Honolulu, Hawaii
Answer: Clear thinking is essential for a bridge player, and colds can severely impinge on that. In addition to the usual routine of taking medicine, my bridge-specific advice (if you cannot sit out) is to play slowly and deliberately while not taking big decisions. Play down the middle and use your ‘time off’ when dummy and in-between rounds to relax.
I have noticed that the Multi two-diamond opening can now be played in two of our big pairs events. I am not accustomed to defending against this. What would you recommend?
Painting by Numbers, Waterbury, Conn.
Answer:
Your opponents are required to bring a written defense to the table in American events. There are two options on the printout. I would recommend option two but be sure to read it carefully as the auction progresses!
What is the optimal way to tackle the suit combination of jack-nine-seventh facing queen-doubleton?
Washed Up, Houston, Texas
Answer:
There are three approaches: lead towards the doubleton and play small, lead to the queen itself, or play small to the nine. All of the lines lose in two of the 3-1 distributions and succeed against a 2-2 break. In isolation, there is nothing much to choose between them, but leading toward the queen makes it hard for the next hand to duck if they have the ace-king. So psychologically this seems right.
I held:
Opened one club in second seat at favorable vulnerability. The next hand overcalled two spades, back to me. What would you do now?
Big Upside, Kenosha, Wis.
Answer: Double
I would double for take-out. Partner could just about be awaiting with a penalty pass, and I am of course happy for him to bid either hearts or clubs. The trouble is when he bids no-trump, where I may have to pull to four clubs, or three diamonds, when I may have to bid three hearts to show this type of hand. It could of course work better to pass, but it is not unlikely that we have a fit, in which case I need little from partner to make game.
