Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: Playing inverted minors, how do you handle a weak jump overcall, say to two spades over our bid of one club? I thought that maybe by partnership agreement a call of three clubs would be strong and four clubs weak. But bidding at the four-level might be too high, so should the convention be off in that kind of competition? – Getting Jumped, Pinehurst, N.C.

Answer: It is best not to use inverted minors in competition. After a one-level overcall, for example, play a simple raise the old-fashioned way, a jump raise or double-jump as pre-emptive, and all good hands with clubs go through the cue-bid. Similarly, after a jump overcall, a simple call in clubs is natural and nonforcing, a jump is pre-emptive, a cue-bid a limit raise or more in clubs.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I held ♠ A-J-2, ♥ A-9-7-5-4-2, ♦ J-10-3, ♣ Q, I opened one heart, and my partner responded one no-trump, forcing. When the next hand bid two clubs, was I supposed to repeat my hearts? I actually passed, and we defended two clubs, which made when we could have made two hearts. – Timid Timmy, Tupelo, Miss.

Answer: Yes, your pass made sense. If I had the heart queen instead of the club queen, I’d bid two hearts. But as it is, your suit looks like five cards, not six, so your pass was very reasonable (even if I might have stretched to bid myself; I hate to pass!).

Dear Mr. Wolff: You recently discussed responses to Jacoby to no-trump to show shortness. I have come up with a modification: raising partner’s shortness bid to show no wasted values in the short suit, limiting your hand to 13-15? – Creative Mind, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Answer: You may be interested to learn of the existence of Bluhmers – named after the late Lou Bluhm. These are sort of reverse cue-bids, in just the way you describe, and although I’ve never heard anyone else suggest they should apply here, it is not at all a bad idea.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I’m wondering whether my best chance to succeed at tournament play is to use methods different from the rest of the field. Have you ever played a weak no-trump, 12-14, and is it viable? – Against the Grain, Newark, N.J.

Answer: Yes, many countries (England, Denmark, and the Antipodes) employ a weak no-trump at all vulnerabilities. I’m no longer a huge fan, but I agree it will get you different results – not necessarily better ones, though.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I held ♠ A-Q-7-4-3-2, ♥ K-J-2, ♦ A, ♣ 10-3-2. The bidding went one club on my left and one spade on my right. What was I supposed to do? Do passing and doubling when two clubs come back to me describe my hand? – Stolen Suit, Staten Island, N.Y.

Answer: I’d bid two spades directly over one spade, natural and showing a decent hand. Even if spades are 5-to-1 against me, I may well find a way to scramble as many as eight tricks facing nothing more than the heart ace. Bidding now is as safe as bidding later (maybe safer).