Bridge
Dear Mr. Wolff: Since the purpose of the Stayman convention is to find a 4-4 major fit, what is wrong with playing four-card majors? Isn’t 4-4 often a better fit than a 5-3? – Syllogistic Sam, Grand Forks, N.D.
Answer: The question is similar to “How long is a piece of string?” I play five-card majors when not playing a strong club but reserve the right to open one heart or one spade with only a four-carder if the hand looks right, so I’m neutral in all of this. Four-card majors are quick and dirty: They find your side’s fit fast but are less accurate in that one never quite reads partner’s shape. Although five-card majors are nice when you open one (you know more than in a four-card major system), they are less precise when you open a minor. So which system you play basically comes down to temperament. (See the next letter for more discussion of this.)
Dear Mr. Wolff: With ♠ A-7-3-2, ♥ Q-10-7-2, ♦ J-2, ♣ A-J-9, what would you open in third seat? I tried a one-heart opening, but it did not work out well when we missed our 5-3 club fit. I thought there might have been tactical benefits to bidding a real suit; my partner did not agree. – Rueful Rambler, Charleston, S.C.
Answer: Yes, in third seat it is often right to bid a good major suit, even a four-carder, but I would not go out of my way to do so here. My clubs are not terrible, my hearts not great, and I have enough values to be able to hold my head up, so I’d make the textbook call of one club.
Dear Mr. Wolff: Is a minor penalty card (one that has been played simultaneously with another card by accident or that has fallen out of your hand) picked up and returned to hand, or does it remain on the table? – Five-Yard Loss, Doylestown, Pa.
Answer: A minor penalty card stays on the table, but only has to be played at the offender’s discretion – except that he can’t play any other minor (nonhonor) card in that suit instead of it. He does not have to discard it or lead it as would be the case with a major penalty card.
Dear Mr. Wolff: I held ♠ Q-4-2, ♥ Q-4-3-2, ♦ A-J, ♣ 9-6-3-2. My partner opened one club, and I responded one heart, doubled on my left. Partner raised to two hearts, and I heard two spades on my right. What would you recommend now? (I seem to be too good to pass.) – Still on Hold, Kenosha, Wis.
Answer: Many people who use support doubles and redoubles play that your partner’s raise promises four trumps – but not I. Since I can’t raise hearts (we might have only a 4-3 fit), I would try three clubs here, expecting this to be purely competitive, not a game-try for hearts. If the opponents had not bid two spades, three clubs would be a game-try here.