Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: When a revoke occurs, is it established only after the trick is completed? — Golden Slipper, Little Rock, Ark.

Answer: A revoke is established when the offending side plays to the next trick — also, in declarer’s case, if he calls for a card from dummy for the next trick. A claim or concession also establishes a revoke.

Dear Mr. Wolff: How should I rebid with “A-Q-8-3, “2, “A-Q-8-6-4, “A-Q-5 after opening one diamond and hearing my partner respond one heart? Is it right to jump to two no-trump, or to bid two spades? — Tigger, Cartersville, Ga.

Answer: Neither action is correct. A simple call of one spade is sufficient, though if your clubs and hearts were interchanged, forcing to game by jumping to two spades would be fine. Think about it this way: If partner passes one spade, chances for game will probably be no better than mediocre at best. You will have no fit and not enough points for game.

Dear Mr. Wolff: When signaling to your partner, should you signal count or give suit preference if you cannot win the trick? — Signal Corps, Texarkana, Texas

Answer: Your question is complex. A simple answer would be to signal attitude if partner might want to know about a missing minor honor such as a queen or jack when dummy wins the trick with an ace or king. If your attitude is defined by bridge logic, signal count — high for even, low for odd — and give suit preference only if count and attitude are irrelevant.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I am going to become a bridge director at my local social club. While I think I understand how to score using matchpoints, can you confirm one point? If a board is played nine times, is the highest matchpoint award eight, and the lowest zero? — Flower Power, Wilmington. N.C.

Answer: Yes, you are right. For every pair you beat, you take one matchpoint, and for every pair you tie, you get half a point. So if there are nine results (eight, excluding yours) and you beat four pairs, tie three, and lose to one, you score five and a half points out of a maximum of eight.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I held “Q-9-3, “A-Q-2, “J-8-6-4, “A-J-10, and my RHO opened a weak no-trump. Was I right to double since I had as many points as he did, or should I have passed? — Aggression-Packed, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Answer: Normally one does not double a no-trump unless one has more than the upper range of the bid, or has a good suit to lead. I’d pass here, though I admit your choice might well work.