Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: In a recent column you suggested that dealer, holding •Q-J-7-6-4, •10, •A-K-Q, •A-K-5-4, should pass at his second turn after he has opened one spade and his RHO balanced with two clubs. Why shouldn’t he double, intending to pass a response of two diamonds, correct two hearts to two spades, or maybe raise a two-spade response to three spades? — Thrust and Parry, Ossining, N.Y.

Answer: I agree with the expert community here that facing a passed partner – or one who has not yet bid – all doubles are takeout at relatively low levels in the auction. So here a double would suggest extras, and short clubs with the other three suits. In hand-frequency terms, your chances of being dealt a penalty double here are slim, whereas your chances of being short in the suit they bid are very good.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I have two questions about bonuses. Is the bonus for making a doubled contract different, depending on the vulnerability? And what if you are redoubled instead of doubled? — Tentative Tony, Vancouver, Wash.

Answer: If you are doubled, the bonus for making your contract will be 50 points, regardless of vulnerability. If redoubled, the bonus is 100 points, again regardless of vulnerability. However, doubled overtricks score differently, depending on the vulnerability. (They are worth 100 each if nonvulnerable, 200 if vulnerable.)

Dear Mr. Wolff: Is the following hand suitable for a pre-emptive opening bid: •J-8-7-3, •4, •A-Q-10-8-6-4, •10-5? If not, why not? — First Blood, Wausau, Wis.

Answer: Yes, I would open a weak two diamonds in first or third chair every day of the week. With a good long suit, the bad four-card major is a flaw, but not an insuperable one, and the pre-emptive opening describes 12 of the 13 cards very nicely. In second chair (where pre-empts should be classical), I’d pass when vulnerable, but probably be tempted to open when nonvulnerable.

Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner and I have been talking about playing Lebensohl in sequences other than after opponents’ intervention following our opening bid of one no-trump. Is that sensible? — Solomon Grundy, Fredericksburg, Va.

Answer: Yes. When your LHO opens a weak two and your partner doubles and RHO passes, it makes sense to play Lebensohl. If so, new suits at the two-level are weak, and new suits at the three-level are invitational. To sign off in a suit that you cannot bid at the two-level, you must bid two no-trump as a transfer to three clubs, allowing you to pass with clubs or to bid your suit. Of course, adding a new convention to your armory increases the chance of accidents – but you may well consider this one worthwhile.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I have been having an argument about what distribution is the most common to pick up. Is not the 4-3-3-3 shape the flattest and therefore the most common? — Pancake Pete, Union City, Tenn.

Answer: No, the 4-4-3-2 shape is far more common. The three most common shapes after this are the 5-3-3-2 pattern, then the 5-4-3-1 and finally the 5-4-2-2 pattern, all more common than the 4-3-3-3 shape you suggested!