Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: You have mentioned New Minor Forcing a few times. Would you explain this convention? It applies after opener bids one of a minor and rebids one no-trump, right? – Detail Devil, White Plains, N.Y.

Answer: When opener rebids one no-trump, responder can sign off at the two-level in his own suit or any suit cheaper than his original response.

Two no-trump and all jumps to the three-level are invitational, not forcing. All good hands go through the new minor, so after one diamond – one spade – one no-trump, a call of two clubs is like Stayman. It promises at least invitational values and lets opener show three-card support for the bid major, show four cards in the unbid major, or make any other descriptive call.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I held ♠ K-2, ♥ A-K-J-10-9-7-3, ♦ A-5-3, ♣ A. After my partner opened three spades, what would you bid? My choice of Blackwood and driving to six hearts facing no aces was not a success. I lost one trick in each major, though six spades would have made. – Major Error, Pearland, Texas

Answer: It seems against the odds to opt to play hearts (where your partner’s spades could be worthless) as opposed to playing spades, where your hearts should pull their full weight.

When your partner showed no aces, bidding six spades was far more likely to work. An alternative approach was to jump to five no-trump immediately as the Grand Slam Force to ask for the top trump honors.

Dear Mr. Wolff: With seven clubs to the Q-J-10 and the tripleton heart ace, I opened three clubs, making four. My partner says I should not have opened, because I had three hearts. The point was that we did miss a heart game when she passed my bid with five hearts and 12 points.

I have been playing duplicate bridge for over 40 years and have never heard of this rule. Did I miss something? – Beef Burger, Fredericksburg, Va.

Answer: You are right and your partner wrong. The possession of an average three-card major should not affect your decision at all. If your own suit is bad and you have a very good three-card major, that is another thing. In any event, why would you want to play four hearts here, with less than half the deck? Unless the cards lie very well, you might find yourself doubled and down a lot.