Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: At my duplicate club recently, I hesitated for a while with a problem. My opponent called the director, claiming that I had now barred my partner from bidding. Was she right, and if so, why should that be? — Slow Coach, St. John’s, Newfoundland

Answer: Behavior like your opponent’s is rude and inappropriate. You are allowed to think as long as you like if you have to work something out, but be aware that this may then give unauthorized information to your partner that you have a problem. He is then obligated to try to take the action that he would have taken without the pause. He is certainly not barred here, though he must attempt to be fair.

Dear Mr. Wolff: In second seat holding •3, •Q-J-10-8-6-2, •6-4, •A-K-9-5, I thought my suit was too weak for a weak two-bid, and I had too much stuff outside hearts, so I passed. Should I have opened two hearts, or perhaps one heart? — Slow Going, Salinas, Calif.

Answer: My view in second seat is that this is just right for a two-heart opening bid. You have the right playing strength and good texture in your suit. In first seat I might open one heart, especially nonvulnerable, since my partner might not be expecting quite so much.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What is the right response with •Q-J-3, •Q-9-2, •A-Q-8-3, •9-7-5 after you hear two spades on your left, doubled by your partner? Since two no-trump would not have been natural, I had to choose between passing, three diamonds and three no-trump. Passing would have netted 300, but three no-trump went down. Was I too optimistic? — Penalty Kicker, Rockford, Ill.

Answer: In its own way, a pass here would have been very optimistic. If you are playing Lebensohl, where a two-no-trump call by you would be the first move on all weak hands, then a direct three diamonds, showing values, seems a middle-of-the-road action. I don’t like a call of three no-trump; the spades look too threatening against you.

Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner bid one of a suit (with 18 points and balanced distribution), and I responded three no-trump. She passed, stating it was a “close-out bid.” I replied that no call in this sequence should be treated as a close-out. We made 12 tricks, and I wondered what your comment would be here. — Close Call, Mason City, Iowa

Answer: You could never respond three no-trump, intending to make, with less than an opening bid, could you? Accordingly, partner’s right call is four no-trump, showing a balanced 18-19 and letting you bid on with anything more than a bare opening bid.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What are the penalties for a pass out of turn? Does it matter whether this is the initial call in the auction — and whether you should have been second, third, or fourth to speak? — Gracious Silence, Greenville, S.C.

Answer: If you pass out of turn before your first chance to speak, your penalty is that you must pass at your next turn to speak. There is no penalty on your partner, who can bid as much or as little as he likes. Note that if the pass out of turn is in midauction, partner can again do what he likes, but may not double or redouble at his next turn.