DEAR MR. WOLFF: During the auction, are you allowed (or even supposed) to use the terms: "alert," "skip bid," "transfer," "jump shift" and so on? I would like to be proven right or wrong so as not to continue this haranguing with my opponents. I have researched the printed word and searched the Internet, but cannot find a definitive answer.
-- Baby Ruth, Troy, N.Y.
DEAR READER: These words are not only legal but best practice. Stop (skip) bids are to prevent your LHO from pausing too much or too little, thus tipping his partner off to his strength. If you must pause with either a flat four- or 14-count, your partner will be able to do what he pleases. An alert tells your opponents (not partner) that a call is conventional. If they wrongly think it is natural, they might be damaged. "Transfer" is a small variant on the alert procedure; it applies to bids in response to a no-trump opening. The only required announcements are "skip," "transfer," "alert" and "forcing" for the response to the major, not "jump shift."
DEAR MR. WOLFF: As the proliferation of cue-bids grows on my convention card, I'm seeking to find the best way to explain what an unassuming cue-bid is and what the call has to be modest about.
-- Winston Smith, Sioux Falls, S.D.
DEAR READER: The reason the call is so named is that facing an overcall, a cue-bid by partner shows a fit and at least limit-raise values. But it in no way promises any control (either high-card or shortage) in the opponent's suit. Conversely, a jump raise of an overcalled suit now becomes much more about shape than high cards.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I was just reading a column last week where a player had a strong balanced hand in fourth chair when a one-diamond call came around to him. With 17 points, why not simply bid one no-trump to avoid wrong-siding a major suit, as actually happened here?
-- Lip Smacker, Tucson, Ariz.
DEAR READER: The range for the balancing no-trump is typically a good 10-15 points, so except by agreement, this call shows a weaker hand, not a stronger one. You hope to double and bid no-trump to show the extras; if you don't play this style, you risk being closed out of the auction when you and your partner each hold balanced minimum opening bids.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I was thinking about going to Chicago in August to the U.S. Nationals there, to try and get my first platinum points. However, I see no way to enter any event with platinum points. Am I missing something?
-- Trophy Hunter, Newark, N.J.
DEAR READER: My reading of the American Contract Bridge League's webpage at bit.ly/14LXpAi suggests that the bold, uppercase events (the LM pairs, open pairs and fast pairs) do have platinum points. You can enter the last two events even if not a life master.
DEAR MR. WOLFF: I had six hearts to the king-jack, and four spades to the ace-queen. I elected to pass in second seat. (Would you?) My partner opened a minor in fourth seat and rebid one no-trump over one heart, but passed my invitation to three hearts. Did I undercook the deal, since a favorable break gave me play for 12 tricks facing the minor-suit aces and the spade king?
-- Low-ball, Edmonton, Alberta
DEAR READER: The initial pass is not my style, though I understand it. Without the side four-card suit, I might just invite game on your auction. But the extra playing strength and the well-placed honors make it sensible to drive to game (perhaps in hearts if partner doesn't admit to holding four spades).
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High Profile on 06/28/2015