Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: Why do some tournament players announce “skip bid” or wave a “Stop” card? — Eastern Block, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Answer: Pre-emptive calls often set the next hand a problem. The idea of the skip-bid warning is to force the next player to pause for 10 seconds, regardless of whether he actually has a problem or not, so he will not convey unauthorized information to his partner by bidding too fast or too slowly.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Can you ever overcall one no-trump with an unbalanced hand — that is, with a side-suit singleton or two doubletons? — Semidetached, Boise

Answer: The short answer is yes. Although one avoids such action on opening bid because there is normally a better alternative available, when overcalling, one may be constrained into making a bid that represents the least lie. It is the exception rather than the rule.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I opened one diamond holding “A-Q-8-5, “4-3, “K-Q-8-7-4, “A-9, and the next hand bid two no-trump to show clubs and hearts. What was I supposed to do when partner doubled and my RHO bid three clubs? — Running Wild, Waterbury, Conn.

Answer: You have some extra high-cards and little extra shape, but no idea where to go. Partner’s double should mean he will bid again. Leave him some room to describe his hand by passing now, and bid your spades on the next round if you get the chance.

Dear Mr. Wolff: You hold “K-Q-6-5-4, “5-2, “Q-8, “Q-5-4-2. After partner’s one-diamond opening, you respond one spade. Partner now bids one no-trump. What is best now — given that two clubs would be artificial (New Minor Forcing)? — Any Advance, Dover, Del.

Answer: Since rebidding two spades might land you in a 5-1 fit on a bad day, and two clubs could get you into the stratosphere, pass, and hope that the fact that your side has the balance of high cards is sufficient to see you through.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Our side’s uncontested auction started one heart-two hearts. If opener now wants to make a game-try in a new suit, what is the ideal holding to have in that suit? — Long and Short, Elkhart, Ind.

Answer: The ideal is to have three or four cards to one top honor. The responding hand should highly value strength in that suit (any holding including two of the top five cards) or shortage coupled with extra trump length. Two or four cards in the help suit is better than three — three small cards being the worst possible holding. Failing that, with a maximum and some suitable cards in the key suit, one should accept the game-try.