Saturday, December 23, 2006 1:36 AM

Wolff Relay - Clubs

PITBULLS:

The Wolfe relay is a better way to handle 2NT rebids than NMF or even transfers, in my opinion. The structure allows you the same convenience of check back for a major fit and allows you to make a slam try in partner’s minor under 3NT. The best advantage is the system allows you to show your intentions immediately by bidding naturally. Partner now knows you have bigger and better things in mind. You would have made a relay , if you only had game in mind or worse.

There is always something you give up by playing a convention & the Wolff relay is no different. This structure does not handle the club suit very well since that particular bid is a relay. The fix is to drop Gerber as a jump to the 4 level after a 2NT rebid . Use Kickback with a minor fit , Gerber at the 5 level & 4NT KCB if you have established a major fit. A leap to 4NT is always a quantitative slam try.

Partner opens 1♣ and you hold ♠AKxxx ♥x ♦xx ♣AKxxx so you respond 1♠. Partner rebids 2NT so you do not relay as you have a strong hand. You bid 4♣ which is not Gerber but a strong 2 suiter. If partner bids 4NT it is to play and 4♦ would be Kickback in support of clubs.

What if partner did not open 1♣ but responder has a strong hand with clubs as one of the suits ? Same thing applies , a jump to 4♣ is your 2^nd suit & not Gerber. Gerber in the age of Kickback is not really needed. If you have a freak hand that all you need to know is the # of Aces , use 5♣ as Gerber after a 2NT rebid.

OK one of the advantages of Wolff relay over NMF is the ability to stop short of game. Partner opens 1♦ and you respond 1♠ with ♠KJxx ♥xx ♦void ♣J1098xxx and partner bids 2NT . Relay time so you bid 3♣ and partner accepts the relay. You bid 4♣ which is non forcing showing a weak 4-6 , 4-7 . Partner may bid on but it better be based on a club fit & controls.

Partner opens 1♣ and you hold ♠x ♥AJxx ♦xx ♣xxxxxx . I would bid 3♣ pre-emptive but if you are a 4 card major bidder , bid 1♥. Partner bids 2NT so you make a relay and eventually partner plays this hand in 4♣. Playing Wolff relay, 2NT is not forcing to game but 4 of a minor with clubs or you might get dropped in diamonds at the 3 level with responder holding a weak diamond hand.