Bobby Wolff News Today

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Which card would you tend to lead from 10-9-x-x?

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I held ; ---, k 10-7-6-4-3, l A-Q-J-9-4, J-9-3, vulnerable against not, and heard one spade on my left, two clubs from partner and two no-trump (showing a good four-card raise) to my right. I decided to bid three diamonds and sold out to four spades. Four spades went a couple down, but we could have made five clubs with partners 14-count and 3=4=1=5 shape. Where did we go wrong?

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Although we play five-card majors, my partner chose to open one heart with ; K-Q-3-2, k A-K-10-5, l 9-6-3, 5-3. Is that OK? Second, we do not do this regularly, but do we need to put that on our card if we do it at all?

DEAR MR. WOLFF: With no one vulnerable, I held ; 9-8-5-4-2, k 10-9-8-7, l A, Q-J-8. Partner opened one club, and I responded one heart. My reasoning was that my spades were so weak, I would treat them as a four-card suit. Also, my hand was too weak for a second bid of two hearts if I had started with one spade. If partner had four of either major, we would find our fit. My partner thinks I should have responded one spade and then bid two hearts at my second turn if appropriate. Do you agree?

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding ; A-J-9-7-5, k 9-6-2, l Q-9-5-2, 2, I bid one spade (showing five) after partner had opened one club and my right-hand opponent had intervened with one heart. When my partner rebid one no-trump, I passed, and he went down. Two spades would have made. Should I have bid it?

DEAR MR. WOLFF: When should one call the director to bring attention to a bidding irregularity?

DEAR MR. WOLFF: After your partner opens one club, you respond one heart, and he rebids two clubs, would you bid on with ; K-7-5, k Q-J-10-7, l A-10-7-6-3, 4?

NORTH

NORTH

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Would you recommend using Stayman without a major on invitational balanced hands ?