The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, 1 February 2026
Choose a language
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português
Nederlands
Русский
中文
Türkçe
Dansk
Svenska
Norsk
हिन्दी
Dear Mr. Rigal:
Say your partner opens one spade, and you hold
♠ J-9-3, ♥ A-Q-6-5-4, ♦ A-2, ♣ 8-7-3.
What is your hand worth, vulnerable?
Working Cards, Hartford, Conn.
It is time to force to game, given the fit with my partner, two aces and a useful five-card suit. I would bid two hearts, intending to jump to four spades next, thereby showing a minimum game-force. The problem with a forcing no-trump is that you may never get the trick-taking capacity of your hand across. In general, if you can describe your hand precisely by overbidding by a jack, do so!
Dear Mr. Rigal:
Is it best to play system on after a one-no-trump overcall, just as if you had opened one no-trump? Or is there something better?
System Guru, Dodge City, Kan.
It is fine to play identical methods after your opponents open a minor, but playing normal Stayman after a one-heart or one-spade opening is inefficient. You are, in effect, just asking partner for four cards in the other major, while a transfer into their suit no longer exists. One option is to use a transfer to their suit as Stayman, and two clubs as a puppet to two diamonds, to play there or to show subsequently some other awkward minor-suit hand types.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
If you are playing standard leads, does leading the nine always show shortness?
Non-sequential, Honolulu, Hawaii.
No. On occasion, you might lead the nine from 9-8-x or from an internal sequence such as J-9-8-x, which is sometimes necessary for technical reasons. Alternatively, you could agree that the nine is either shortness or an alarm clock lead from length, requesting an unusual return. Zia Mahmood advocates this treatment.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
I opened one no-trump, and my partner transferred to spades. I duly bid two spades, which went back around to my right-hand opponent, who balanced with three clubs. I had a useful club holding and doubled for penalty. My right-hand opponent looked aghast and told me I was “not allowed” to double, having already shown my hand while partner could have a 0-count. What do you think?
Hogwash, Elmira, N.Y.
You can make any legal call you like. It is a common agreement for opener’s double to be for penalty, even though this carries some risk, since the transfer bidder could indeed have nothing. Your holding in the intervenor’s suit must be robust. Alternatively, you can agree that the sequence is defensive but also promises a three-card fit for partner.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
What would you bid with ♠ A-Q-10-7-5-3, ♥ Q-J-9-4, ♦ A, ♣ 9-4, no one vulnerable, after your right-hand opponent opens a strong no-trump?
One or Both, Grand Junction, Colo.
I usually bid the six-card suit first with this sort of shape, but what can go wrong if I start with a Landy two clubs to show both majors here? If partner bids two diamonds, I bid two spades. If he bids two hearts, even better — I can remove to two spades to show extra values with long spades and four hearts, bringing partner in on the decision.
Barry Rigal
Barry Rigal is an English-born bridge player, author, commentator, and journalist who has won major national titles in both the UK and the United States and served as a VuGraph commentator for decades at European and World championships. He has written and edited numerous bridge books and articles and has been President of the International Bridge Press Association, contributing widely to the game’s literature and education.
Responses