Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: If I understand correctly, there are two ways to play Chicago Bridge. One is when the dealer is vulnerable on the second and third deals and you do not build partscores (the way we were taught). The other method is when the opponents of the dealer are vulnerable and you do build. Which method is the more popular? Where can I find more information about this? – Pointillist, White Plains, N.Y.

Answer: The better – newer – way (in that it encourages more bidding) is to have dealer nonvulnerable on the second and third deals. The old-fashioned way is still the standard, though. By the way, in all variations of Chicago I’ve ever played, partscores are kept and built on.

Dear Mr. Wolff: With ♠ A-7-2, ♥ A-2, ♦ A-J-9-6, ♣ Q-10-3-2, what is the right call after an opening bid of one spade on your right. Can I assume double is out of the question? – Tempted, Cartersville, Ga.

Answer: Yes, double is wrong with only two hearts; you would double an opening bid of one heart, though. Over a one-spade opening I would bid one no-trump if my partner was an unpassed hand but stay silent if he was a passed hand.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Playing in Swiss teams, I held ♠ K-Q-J-10-8, ♥ A-4-2, ♦ Q-7-3, ♣ 8-2. My partner opened one club, I responded one spade, and my partner rebid one no-trump. After some thought, I declined to look for a spade fit and took it to three no-trump, which turned out well since both games had nine tricks only. My decision met with disdainful looks from our top-flight opponents, but was my reasoning sound, or were we simply lucky? – Barrier Reef, Saint John’s, Newfoundland

Answer: At your second turn you could drive to the no-trump game (as you did), hoping clubs were not open – or not led if they were. You could offer a choice of games, perhaps using New Minor Forcing, then jumping to three no-trump. Or you could head for a game in spades if you found the 5-3 fit. Your actual approach was a practical one. Even if you had been wrong, your view made sense, and if it was right, your opponents certainly should not be sniffy about it!

Dear Mr. Wolff: Could you please explain to me the format described as Board-a-Match? Is it played much outside the Nationals? – Scorer Sammy, Ketchikan, Alaska

Answer: In the olden days, when I was young, Board-a-Match was very common, but it has been supplanted (except at the Nationals) by the Swiss-team format, which tends to equalize the field. BAM is like a pairs game, but played between two teams. On every deal all that matters is who scores higher. A point goes to the winners of each deal, nothing to the losers, and a half point to each team for an exact tie.