DEAR MR. RIGAL: You hold SPADES K-3, HEARTS Q-10-6-2, DIAMONDS Q-J-10-5-4-3, CLUBS 3, nonvulnerable versus vulnerable opponents, and you hear your partner open three no-trump in third seat. The next player overcalls four hearts. Your partnership’s style (gambling three no-trump) is to have no more than a queen or jack outside the long minor. What’s your call?
– Gambling Man,
Saint John’s, Newfoundland
DEAR READER: Partner has seven solid clubs, but I still don’t know what’s right. I might consider doubling, intending to lead the diamond queen. I am concerned, however, that my left-hand opponent might decide to run to four spades if I double, so I think I’ll pass since I seem to have my opponents where I want them.
DEAR MR. RIGAL: Would you overcall one spade on this: SPADES …
DEAR MR. RIGAL: You hold SPADES K-3, HEARTS Q-10-6-2, DIAMONDS Q-J-10-5-4-3, CLUBS 3, nonvulnerable versus vulnerable opponents, and you hear your partner open three no-trump in third seat. The next player overcalls four hearts. Your partnership’s style (gambling three no-trump) is to have no more than a queen or jack outside the long minor. What’s your call?
– Gambling Man,
Saint John’s, Newfoundland
DEAR READER: Partner has seven solid clubs, but I still don’t know what’s right. I might consider doubling, intending to lead the diamond queen. I am concerned, however, that my left-hand opponent might decide to run to four spades if I double, so I think I’ll pass since I seem to have my opponents where I want them.
DEAR MR. RIGAL: Would you overcall one spade on this: SPADES K-Q-J-8-7, HEARTS J-8, DIAMONDS Q-7-5, CLUBS 7-3-2, vulnerable against not, after your partner passes and your right-hand opponent opens one diamond?
– Lead Director,
San Antonio, Texas
DEAR READER: It is unlikely to be our deal in view of partner’s pass, so I am more than happy to bid for the lead here, as you suggest. Partner is less likely to get overexcited now, and he should know my penchant for helping him on lead. It may seem inconsistent, but I strongly believe that two-level overcalls are to be taken more seriously in terms of suit length and quality than one-level overcalls.
DEAR MR. RIGAL: Your right-hand opponent opens three clubs, you double and the next hand raises to five clubs. What does partner’s double mean here?
– Cards,
Huntington, W.Va.
DEAR READER: Partner’s double merely shows a good hand, essentially protecting your likely game bonus. You will typically pass rather than guess at which strain to play, but you can bid with an exceptional hand if you think you are making at the five-level or higher. Without a doubt, you should act anytime you have a void.
DEAR MR. RIGAL: How would you recommend we play a three of a minor response to a one-level opening in a major?
– Dealer’s Choice,
Atlanta, Ga.
DEAR READER: You could play these as natural and strong, but it is rare to pick up such a hand. Natural and invitational is useful when playing two-over-one game-forcing, to take some pressure off the wide-ranging one-no-trump response. Bergen raises are also popular, but I find one three-level raise is more than sufficient. Currently I play a semi-forcing one-no-trump response, so I use both three clubs and three diamonds as invitational raises with three and four trumps respectively. Judi Radin gets the credit (or blame) for this technique, I believe.
DEAR MR. RIGAL: Say you open one spade, and your left-hand opponent’s two-club overcall is passed back to you. You reopen with a double, and hear three clubs from your left. What does your partner’s double mean now?
– Fetch the Axe,
Trenton, N.J.
DEAR READER: This is for penalty. Partner was probably intending to convert my double of two clubs. The fact that the overcaller has volunteered an extra 300 should not dissuade us from catching him. Bridge is no game for philanthropists! Yes, if I really trusted my left-hand opponent, I might wonder who was more likely to have a screw loose, but I tend to trust my partner – the first few times.
If you would like to contact Barry Rigal, email him at
barryrigal@hotmail.com
