ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: In response to a strong two-club opening, would you please comment on the two-diamond response as a waiting bid, as opposed to showing a suit or controls, with an immediate response of two hearts being a double negative? - Wait and See, Boise, Idaho

DEAR READER: I prefer to use two diamonds as waiting or negative because that can be combined well with a method espoused by Eric Kokish. In these methods opener’s rebid of two no-trump shows 22-24, and two hearts forces a call of two spades. Now opener rebids no-trump with a balanced game-force; minor suits show that minor plus longer hearts; three hearts is single-suited hearts. Even if not playing that, I don’t think the immediate double negative via two hearts isvery useful.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Would the sequence one club - three clubs - four clubs - five clubs ever be bid by two experts, especially two experts who are not a regular partnership?

To put it another way, could the above sequence be described as intelligent? With what hands would this be a sensible route to the club game? - Heart to Heart, Bremerton, Wash.

DEAR READER: Since we never invite facing an invitation, four clubs is either pre-emptive or a one-suited slam-try with no singleton (else a splinter), not interested in no-trump but looking for a cue-bid from partner. Your sequence is highly unlikely, since opener, with slam interest facing a limit raise, surely has a second suit or shortage and would describe his hand or ask foraces, not reraise his suit.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Does the concept of a free bid or a free raise still apply? If so, can you explain when it is in use? - Django, Sacramento

DEAR READER: The concept of the free raise showing extra values is best forgotten. One has to compete with a fit for partner, with or without values. So raise partner when you can - except that with a dead minimum and defensive values, especially with bad trump, passing initially may be wisest. The one place where a free action promises slightly more than in a parallel noncompetitive auction is that a one-notrump response to an opening bid in competition tends to be a good 7-10, rather than 6-9.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What do jumps to five of a major typically show? I was faced with the following sequence: one heart - two clubs - two hearts - three hearts - four diamonds - five hearts. Is the last bid an asking bid or a statement about something specific?

• Asking or Telling?, Madison, Wis.

DEAR READER: There are many auctions where three suits have been bid (or where the opponents have bid a suit). In those cases a jump to five of the agreed major asks for a control in the danger suit - here, spades. In other sequences a jump in the trump suit most commonly asks for good trump, suggesting the bidder has especially poor trump, but a good hand inall other respects. Occasionally, though, the reverse is true: The call shows good trump and nothing to cuebid - you generally know which!

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding◊Q-5-4,◊S A-J-7-3-2,◊K-4,◊10-5-2, must I overcall over an opening of one club and one diamond?

Does the vulnerability, or whether partner has passed, affect your decision? - In the Weeds, Birmingham, Ala.

DEAR READER: Some would argue that a space-consuming overcall (robbing your LHO of the chance to bid one diamond in the first instance) should be made more aggressively than one that takes no space. I do not buy into this,but I would overcall unless at unfavorable vulnerability, facing a passed partner. I do not think the scoring method matters here, but change my heart jack into the 10, and I would be more discreet.

If you would like to contact Bob by Wolff, email him at bobby [email protected].