Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: Who succeeds Paul Soloway as the living American with the most masterpoints? – Bean Counter, Bay City, Mich.

Answer: Mike Passell of Texas is coming up close behind Soloway. I expect him to overtake some time around 2009, if all goes well.

Dear Mr. Wolff: With ♠ A, ♥ A-Q-7-5-3, ♦ A-9-6, ♣ 10-4-3-2, I opened one heart and rebid one no-trump over my partner’s one-spade response. My partner corrected to two spades with only five, and told me later that the right call with my hand was two clubs. What do you think? – Alien Matter, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Answer: I like your choice – the bare ace is closer to a doubleton trump than a singleton. And I hate to introduce honorless suits when I have a practical alternative. Move the spade ace into the clubs and give me a small singleton spade, and there would be no contest: two clubs would be the right call.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What is the right approach when you have a five-card major and eight points facing a strong no-trump opening bid? Should you transfer and pass the response, or should you invite to game at your second turn with a call of two no-trump? – Going Postal, Memphis, Tenn.

Answer: The critical factor for me is the quality of the five-card major and the intermediates. I use a simple rule: When I hear partner open one no-trump, I add on a point for any five-card suit headed by a top honor and at least the jack or 10. So, with Q-10-9-4-2 in my long suit, I’d add on a point and invite. Change the 10 into the eight and I pass.

Dear Mr. Wolff: With ♠ 2, ♥ A-2, ♦ Q-J-9-6-4-3, ♣ Q-10-6-5, I opened two diamonds and rebid three clubs over my partner’s response of two spades. My partner now bid three diamonds, which I construed to be nonforcing but constructive. What should I do now? – Heavy Brigade, Riverside, Calif.

Answer: This is a real teaser. You have extras and a stopper in the unbid suits, decent intermediates, but you must be worried that you won’t be able to reach your diamonds in three no-trump if the opponents lead hearts. I think I would bid on, but I’d temporize with three hearts as the fourth suit, planning to bid three no-trump over a three-spade call.

Dear Mr. Wolff: If declarer drops a card on the table, is it a played card? – Back Drop, Orlando, Fla.

Answer: In general the answer is that a dropped (as opposed to a played) card by declarer carries no penalty. The point is that it gives no unauthorized information to anyone, since dummy is not actively involved. The situation is more complex for the defenders; I’ll cover that question in answering another letter.