The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, 5 April 2026
Choose a language
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português
Nederlands
Русский
中文
Türkçe
Dansk
Svenska
Norsk
हिन्दी
Dear Mr. Rigal:
My partner had ♠ 10-8-4-3-2, ♥ A-4-2, ♦ A-Q-5, ♣ A-4. Vulnerable against not, he bid one spade over his right-hand opponent’s one heart. The next hand bid two clubs, and I jumped to four hearts, a splinter. What would you do now in my partner’s place?
Hard Worker, Waterbury, Conn.
This hand has something to spare in the context of a mere overcall, albeit the trumps are very poor. The three aces are especially good news. Your partner is facing a slam try, so he must cooperate. Controls are not the issue, so I think a jump to five spades, an invitational call, is the best shot. You should appreciate that your partner is after good trumps, since he didn’t cue-bid or use Blackwood. I’d be much happier making this call with a fourth diamond as a potential extra playing trick, but I have to do something.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
I have heard mention of a system where a two-club opening is either strong or a weak two in diamonds. Is this a good idea?
Innovation, Phoenix, Ariz.
This treatment is common in Europe but not in the USA. It works best in the context of an artificial two-diamond call, perhaps a multi two-diamond bid to show a weak hand in a major. If you go down this rabbit hole, you will be able to play it only at top-level events. I’m not a huge fan.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
What should I do if an opponent misclaims as declarer?
Legal Eagle, Grand Forks, N.D.
Call the director and let them sort it out. Do not try to rectify the situation yourself in any way, as this might affect your rights if there is a further irregularity.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
Say you have bid to four spades on a constructive sequence, and your opponents bid over you at the five-level. Is your pass forcing now?
Situational, Trenton, N.J.
It depends on your estimation of their chances. A high-level forcing pass inherently means you are not concerned about the opponents making their contract. I would say that if one of you forced to game or showed a high-card limit raise facing an opener (but not an overcall), pass should be forcing — after all, your side has guaranteed the bulk of the high cards, so they are unlikely to make. If, however, you only made an invitational call, a splinter or fit bid facing an overcall — which could be based on distribution and less power — a pass should not be forcing. This also does not necessarily apply to four-level interventions by the opponents.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
What do you lead from an A-K sequence against suits? Does it depend on the holding?
Habitual, Mason City, Iowa
I tend to lead the king as a default, but I can reverse the order if I have a doubleton and am looking for a ruff, or if I want to send some unusual message to partner. (This would normally involve the intent to shift to a side-suit singleton, or the desire to put partner on lead when I have a void.) Against contracts at the five-level or higher, I lead the king from all A-K sequences to ask for count. There, the lead of the ace is unsupported and asks for attitude.
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