The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, 15 March 2026
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Dear Mr. Rigal:
What is the typical hand for a preemptive four of a minor opening?
Self-Sufficient, Detroit, Mich.J.
Some think this should show the equivalent of a three-minor preempt but with extra shape. However, while you are going past three no-trump, making game is not your primary goal when you preempt. Thus, you would prefer not to have both the ace and king of your suit — valuable as an entry in no-trump and on defense. Your suit should be internally strong enough to handle a bad break, and your hand should not be especially suitable for playing in the majors in case partner is strong. These conditions are all relaxed in third seat, of course.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
Say you open one heart with ♠ A, ♥ A-K-10-8-7, ♦ 7-6-4-3, ♣ Q-6-5. The next hand bids one spade, and partner bids two no-trump, showing a four-card heart raise, at least limit strength. Your right-hand opponent bids three diamonds. What say you now?
Waiting Game, Duluth, Minn.
I have enough for game with my 5-4-3-1 shape, but we could have a slam on if partner has short diamonds. There is no need to rush to four hearts, so I would take it slow with a three-spade cue bid. If partner bids four clubs, I will sign off in four hearts, having said my piece. At least I will have given partner a chance.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
I can’t believe you missed the boat in your answer to the question of why down one is good bridge. It’s clearly not good bridge, but it IS good bridge if your opponents have bid to game. Then when you go down one, they get only 50 or 100 — 200 doubled, at most.
Silly Saying, Boise, Idaho
Most of the time that I’ve seen the expression used tends not to be when one has found a good sacrifice but when one has overbid and gone down unnecessarily. Your experience may vary, of course.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
We play Texas transfers after our one no-trump. Should these apply if the opponents interfere as well?
System On, Salinas, Calif.
I see no reason why not. Say you open one no-trump, and the next hand bids two spades. Partner’s four diamonds can still be showing hearts for want of anything better. This might work well if your right-hand opponent has a spade fit but not enough to bid four spades. Transfers apply when the intervention is at or below three clubs.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
You hold ♠ K-J-10-3, ♥ A-7-3, ♦ 9, ♣ J-9-6-3-2 and pass as dealer, everyone vulnerable. Your left-hand opponent opens one diamond, partner bids two diamonds to show the majors and the next hand passes. What say you?
Picture Perfect, Jackson, Miss.
This hand is definitely worth game now, with the double fit, fillers for partner’s suits and singleton diamond — it could hardly be any better, given my original pass. I can therefore show some signs of life rather than just bidding game. Four diamonds, followed by four spades over four hearts, should get this message across. We could have a slam on if partner has significant extra values. While this might let opener double, I’m not sure I mind that much.
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.
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