JUST ANOTHER SOAP OPERA …

February 3rd, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  1 Comment 

One of the most colorful and popular bridge characters ever to take center stage in our hobby was New Yorker, Harry J. Fishbein, lovingly called Fishy by his fans and friends.

Though he played professional basketball, his true love was bridge and was both President and Proprietor of the legendary New York Mayfair Club where many a high stake rubber bridge game took place.   Fishy, who served as Treasurer of the ACBL (and according to the Bridge Encyclopedia — refused to accept the customary compensation) was a highly decorated competitor with twelve national titles to his credit and was inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously in 2000.  Fishy enjoyed two claims to fame:  (1) the Convention that bore his name; and (2) his famous variety of berets without which he would never leave home. 

There are many Fishy stories still bandied about, but my favorite one involves his good friend, Charlie Goren.   They would often accompany each other to out-of-town tournaments — usually playing with different teammates.   Charlie (though at that time it was not public knowledge) sponsored high-powered teams.  Being a teammate of  the uncontested king of bridge was a feather in one’s cap and a status symbol — great for the ego — but not particularly good for one’s bank account as Charlie was a penny pincher by nature (though not dictated by his success as the greatest promoter of all times).  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Harry, on the other hand, a great player in his own right, had good teams — but the caliber of his groups never quite matched up with Charlie’s.  Often Fishy had to settle for "silver" medals — and on this particular occasion Charlie had been especially lucky as he and his crew captured three events.  In an attempt to soothe his constantly bruised ego, Fishy proudly removed from his pocket a huge collection of soap bars he had ‘lifted’ from the hotel room.  Charlie took his eyes off the road for a second, glanced down and questioned in apparent amazement, "Just how many do you have there?"   Fishy grinned from ear to ear,  and belted out, "Fourteen!"   "Sorry, Fishy," countered Goren, "Second again!!!!"

THE WORLD HATES A COWARD!

January 31st, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  6 Comments 

Bobby and I often reminisce and exchange stories from our respective pasts.   I find it so sad that much of this wondrous bridge history will die .. to coin a TV phrase … without a trace.   Thus, you can understand my frequent compulsion to share with the bridge world at large some of these entertaining and informative tales (from either personal experiences or imparted to me by my husband — who has a bulging treasure chest of his own).

As Bobby was reading my blog about Omar, he piped up with a ‘classic‘  from the legendary and much heralded Culbertson-Lenz Match. Since these contests were held before my time on earth, I decided to check out their history in The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge as they were merely names from the past.   Do yourself a favor and follow it up yourself.   The coverage is positively fascinating!

Bobby attributes the story I am about to relate as the prelude to the eventual concept of Wolff “SIGNOFF” (named by Ozzie) before Bobby was barely a gleam in his father’s eye.   The book (published by the ACBL) explains that the famed C-L Match (referred to back then as The Bridge Battle of the Century) took place between December, 1931 and January, 1932.  It was about determining the superiority of systemic differences.  One hundred fifty rubbers were

Coincidentally, the above excerpt related directly to Bobby’s story that I alluded to earlier.   However, you must bear in mind that Jacoby was a brilliant, brash young upstart twenty-nine years of age and Sidney Lenz was about fifty-eight and an established, seasoned player.   Apparently, a disaster befell the Lenz/Jacoby twosome when Ozzie signaled Lenz during the defense of a hand.  Jacoby for some reason, could not afford to signal positively in the suit he wanted, and alternatively wired negatively in another suit.   Lenz did not field the curve thrown by Ozzie, to which Jacoby remarked, “Only twelve to fifteen players in the entire nation would have the intelligence to know what my signal was intended to mean. Unfortunately for me, you were not one of them!”

Ozzie’s resignation from the Lenz/Jacoby partnership could appropriately be deemed THE JACOBY SIGNOFF!

As you may know — in the mid-fifties, Ozzie took Bobby, a fellow-Texan, under his wing — recognizing his tremendous potential.   Half a century later Bobby laughs as he reflects upon some of the innovative, abusive names he was called and insults sustained when Ozzie thought he fell from grace.   The great Oswald Jacoby, a genius in so many fields, was ne’er afraid to speak his mind.  Leopards just don’t change their spots!

THE OMAR SHARIF BRIDGE CIRCUS

January 31st, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  10 Comments 

Perhaps one of the most spectacular extravaganzas ever to grace the bridge horizon was The Omar Sharif Bridge Circus of 1970-71.  During the editing of The Lone Wolff, Bobby and I discovered that thirty-three years prior we were both very much involved in the Circus … he, as a player and I, as a local coordinator and yet we hardly crossed paths during their final tour of duty in my very own hometown.

The OSBC was an unusual happening — a sensational ‘first’ in the annals of our game.   In bridge lore, there was only ‘one Omar‘ (although I do recall a reference as kids to Omar the Tentmaker — but he was neither a handsome, charismatic movie idol nor a bridge fanatic.   And, yes, General Omar Bradley also had his day in the spotlight).   But the Omar we are setting our sights upon proudly proclaimed,   "Acting is my Profession … Bridge is my Passion."   Not unlike many people who have reached the summit in their chosen fields,  bridge addiction and obsession can totally envelop them and displace earlier priorities — relegating anything and everything to second place (and a bad second — at that)!                                                                                                   

The Circus was a unique phenomenon.  A caravan of bridge players traveled the continent, making much publicized four day stops* at major cities, strutting their stuff, with a three cornered match as their bridge format.  It was a feeble attempt to put bridge on the map as a spectator sport, but produced thousands of happy campers along the trail!  (*The visits to each metropolis were actually of seven day duration.   They would arrive on Mondays for a local press conference and Tuesdays and Wednesdays were devoted to head-on competition between the Circus and the Aces).  On Thursday the official fireworks began although as I recall, kibitzers were welcome and plentiful during the early part of the week. 

The overall Circus ratio composition was ‘two part gypsies’ and ‘one part locals’ –  an unusual mix of pasteboard talent:

Part I (The Featured Attraction):  THE CIRCUS, starring Omar and his merry band, which included energetic and quick-witted Egyptian Leon Yallouze as the coordinator; young Mike Ledeen (later to become a world renown terrorism expert) who served as the American Manager of the Circus; and a few other fellas you may have heard of in your travels:   Benito Garozzo (thought of by most as the greatest bridge player of all time) plus his Italian compatriots Pietro Forquet and Giorgio Belladonna and handsome Parisian internationalist, Claude Delmouly.

Part II:   THE DALLAS ACES, the first fully professional bridge team, created by Ira Corn and coached by Joe Musumeci.   This group which accompanied the Circus included Billy Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Bob Hamman Jim Jacoby,  Mike Lawrence and Bobby Wolff.

The triumvirate was rounded out by a team composed of LOCAL EXPERTS,  prepared to give the visitors a run for their money and pump up their hometown fans with exuberance, spirit and pride.                                                                                                                                                                                           

By a strange stroke of fate, I was drafted to oversee the competition planned for the City of Brotherly Love.  It included greeting, welcoming and transporting all of the circus performers from Philadelphia International Airport via a motorcade to the Drake Hotel in Center City (the site of their official four-day appearance), arranging for local press coverage, recorders, monitors, and much more  — but the volunteers were emerging from the woodwork (with reserves hanging from the rafters) so my job was a piece of cake.  Everyone was enthralled that Philly was one of the chosen few and determined to show that we were deserving of our selection!

We were the last on a seven-stop North American tour — starting in Chicago, continuing through Winnipeg, Los Angeles, St. Paul-Minneapolis, Dallas, Detroit — ending in Philadelphia!   As you can imagine, this bridge odyssey was quite costly and the Circus had two enthusiastic and generous sponsors:   Stancraft Playing Cards and Cosco (card table and chair manufacturers).   The entourage actually had a technical staff as well.   It included Bud Dietrich, a gifted emcee who was also a handsome magician, card manipulator and singer; National Director Al Neilsen who handled the electronics and vu-graph operation;  and of course,  Mike Ledeen, wearing many hats, was a disciple of the Italian Blue Club System and a master of analysis which enhanced the enjoyment of the live audience.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Duplicates (interspersed with participating Circus players) were scheduled in the afternoons, followed by dinner breaks before the start of the vu-graph matches.   At first I was apprehensive at the prospect of Philly not making an impressive showing at the duplicates and then the light dawned!  Philadelphia is unique in that it has a Woman’s Bridge League with dozens of country clubs, each having anywhere from one to six teams.   There were Men’s Leagues as well — but minuscule in comparison to the women’s involvement.   I contacted every one of them by mail  (before the days of cyberspace) and they arrived in droves to welcome our famous guests.   The duplicates were packed and I recall a funny incident stemming from a telephone call from an older woman who was in quest of a reservation.   I asked if she preferred NS or EW, to which she replied,  "What’s that?   I don’t play bridge.   I just want to sit next to Omar."    And, I might add, it was not an isolated request.

To call the Philadelphia contingent the "Local Team" was a slight misnomer because the awesome foursome consisted of Bobby Jordan, Arthur Robinson, my late husband, Norman Kay and his partner, New Yorker Edgar Kaplan, who was imported for the occasion.    They did us proud as they beat both Omar’s group and the Aces. However, that dual victory was overshadowed when our devotees shattered all attendance records for both the number of duplicate entries and vu-graph audiences as the Circus took their final curtain call at the Drake Hotel that Sunday evening.  When it came to love of the game, Philadelphia did not have to take a back seat to anyone!

As an interesting ‘aside,’ I learned from a reliable source and eyewitness close to me that after the play of 840 hands during a seven week span (with several changes of lead),  the Aces prevailed over the Circus by 101 Imps.  However, it was not a crushing victory by a long shot –  considering how many boards were in play.

Some days I have trouble counting trump, but Omar’s pilgrimage to Philly will remain a treasured memory and always have a special place in my heart.

INDIAN LOVE CALL ….

January 26th, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  4 Comments 

Life isn’t always a bowl of cherries and we are prone to forget the joys of life and dwell more profoundly on our losses.  In the Jewish tradition, mourning the passing of a loved one is known as “Sitting Shiva” — a recognized observance of bereavement which continues for seven days.   Very fortunately, my recent loss was not of a loved one — but rather my ‘best friend’ — my Dell Inspiron 6000.   My hard drive crashed and died.   If such a tragedy has ever befallen you, you can sympathize with the feeling of abandonment and hopelessness.   It is like you are bound and gagged and have totally lost your independence, usefulness, sociability and contact with the world at large. (Whatever happened to that old fashioned device called the telephone)?

When the beautiful bright blue screen with white lights repeatedly appeared as I tried to get online, I became bewildered.  But — it didn’t take a rocket scientist to soon discover that my computer was in trouble and headed for certain death.  I first called AOL who referred me to Dell.

In this age of cyberspace, few major service organizations are based in the United States and in the past I have experienced frequent language barriers!   I find it cumbersome to keep stating, “Please repeat that,” or “We have a bad connection,” or “I am not quite sure what you are saying.”   However, those making the S. O. S. call are not in control and deciphering the native tongue of the person on the other end only added to my misery and deepening depression.

I learned that the gentleman assigned to my case was based in India and after endless clicks of F1s, F2s, F12s and other assorted and sundry keys, it was confirmed my hard drive was no longer in the land of the living.   The procedure seemed routine to them:  I was asked to ante up $50 in advance for the specialist’s diagnosis of my computer’s illness and then another $150 or so for replacement parts (hard drive plus additional memory components and four discs).  Before I concluded the call, I posed the $64 Question!

I innocently asked, “How long will it take to install everything and is it an involved process?”   “No!” enthusiastically replied, my technician.   “You can do it yourself and it should take about ten to fifteen minutes.”   Phew!  What a relief.  I authorized the purchase and much to my delight, all three items arrived by noon the following day.  I was extremely impressed with their efficiency.

Beware of Greeks (or Indians) bearing gifts.  Though I was enthralled to learn I could resolve the problem myself,  I made a safety play — calling my computer guru (one of the best in Vegas) and requesting he come over the following day (though I added I was told I could handle it myself).  I probably jumped the gun — but I was not anxious to swim or drown  in uncharted waters — and decided to splurge and have it done professionally and put the nightmare behind me.   Good move, Judy!!!!

The outcome:  Three hours and $300 later my computer was up and running (with several programs not yet installed and countless other minor glitches and unresolved issues which will necessitate another house call).

My assessment of the convincing “ten to fifteen minutes” installation estimate by my Dell agent:  I would venture an educated guess that if starting from scratch as a bridge novice, it  would  take less time to become a Life Master than for an ordinary lay person like myself to install the necessary hardware and get it up to snuff!!!!

Besides — at my age — time’s a-wasting!

MAKING A PACT WITH THE DEVIL

January 20th, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  12 Comments 

I was recently reminded of an ultra-aggressive player (and teacher) from back home who, in her heyday, always seemed to play in big events with the pick of the litter.   As they used to condescendingly say, until Women’s Rights surfaced and the female populace frowned on such degradation of the fair sex (by not-so-subtle comparison): “For a woman, she plays o.k.”  Over the course of time she had won a couple of important events; however, no Helen Sobel, by any stretch of the imagination!

Norman and I were dating at the time and I was observing from the bench.  She was forever bamboozling my future hubby to play with her in major local events.   I was new to the big time, unfamiliar with the guile and wile of the bridge world, and content to glean all I could from kibitzing so I did not have aspirations along those lines.  Something did bother me, however.  I could understand if it were a Mixed Pairs as she was certainly a desirable quantity — yet nowhere in the class of her local male counterparts.   But, that never seemed to stop her from getting into the thick of things in Open Pairs and Teams.  In the back of my mind, I always questioned why Norman was not more selective (often straddled by Pushy Peggy) rather than partnered by a comparable male peer.  Quite by accident, I discovered her secret.   I suppose it is a frequent M. O. used by manipulative individuals on a mission — but for a long time I was too dumb and naive to figure out how she always manipulated her way onto the best teams around or cornered far better players for pair events.  She was outgoing and friendly, but her desirability intrigued me as her calling card had nothing to do with sex.   She was hardly a femme fatale — a rather massive specimen, at best.  

Players of my bridge ilk at that time would have concentrated all their energy on attaining their life mastership — but not I!   My sights were set on breaking her code and figuring out her game plan.   I was challenged as there was far more to the scenario than met the eye.  One day, while she and Norman were playing in New York at a premier event, the mystery unraveled on its own!   After the first session (and a bad one, to boot) while waiting to compare results, I overheard their teammates debating why Norman was playing with ‘her’ and reproaching themselves for getting sucked into the deal.  Suddenly, the scenario leading up to the formation of the team became painfully obvious and I chided myself for taking so long to work it out.

Pushy Peggy would call Norman (well in advance of an event — before anyone entertained the thought of making a date), looking for a partner to play with her to round out a team — usually dangling a top partnership before Norman’s eyes as the tempting other half.  Norman was newly discovered, had just made the big time, didn’t want to rock the boat, make any waves, hurt any feelings or appear like a big shot.   Besides, Norman was a genuine sweetheart and was very sensitive about the feeling of being rebuffed —  so he would never refuse her.  It was later confirmed this was the normal protocol she adopted to enlist the services of future teammates (with others as well).

Norman was easy prey.  Lassoing him was a piece of cake for PP so she reversed the dummy, telephoned the dangled out-of-town bait — advising that Norman was anxious for them to join the team.  Put yourselves in their shoes.   They knew of Norman’s enormous talent (and exceptionally good judgment)  — so thinking that if  ‘she’ was good enough for Norman — how could they turn down the invitation?  They couldn’t!

On the train ride back to Philadelphia, I spilled the beans — relating the conversation overheard between Norman’s teammates.  The next morning, an embarrassed Norman verified the story that PP was, as they say, playing both ends against the middle, and alas, an abrupt end was put to Pushy Peggy’s Ploys!

“GENERAL” MEMORIES

January 20th, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  3 Comments 

Reading and enjoying Philip Alder’s recent article on Dwight D. Eisenhower recalled to me tender memories of Ike’s good friend and colleague — another military bridge devotee, General Alfred M. Gruenther.    History will revere Al Gruenther as the youngest U. S. Four-Star General in U. S. annals, Chief of Staff of the Third Army, Fifth Army and Fifteenth Army Group, principal American planner of the allied invasions in North Africa in 1942 and Italy in 1943, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and Commander in Chief of the U. S. European Command in 1953.   His military performance and brilliant accomplishments were endless.  Gruenther also was President of The American Red Cross from 1957-1964. He made it to the cover of Life Magazine when he retired from the service in 1956 and appeared on the popular TV show What’s My Line the following year.

However, he sported another cap to the bridge gentry.  Al Gruenther was a respected authority on Duplicate Contract Bridge and the outstanding Director of bridge tournaments in America in the Thirties.   He also had the distinction of serving as Chief Referee in the 1931-32 Culbertson-Lenz Match.  Those days were long before my time as I met General Gruenther for the first time in the early-sixties.   He had taken a shine to Norman and kept abreast of the major tournaments.   It became a ritual to find an enthusiastic congratulatory note awaiting our return if Norman had won another NABC event.   The General was always in the salute mode — commending outstanding bridge achievements — as the game held a special place in his heart.

My favorite communication (for selfishly personal reasons), dated August 20, 1967 was addressed to yours truly and is proudly enshrined in my own scrapbook captioned Miracle in Montreal.   Unbeknownst to me, after my triumph with Edgar, Norman (though not fully recuperated from the shock) slipped away to his nearby office on consecutive evenings after our return to Philadelphia and would arrive back at our center city apartment long after the children and I had retired.  In longhand, he had been requesting that congratulatory notes be sent to his wife (moi) for her startling victory in the Mixed Pairs with a first-time partner.  He used his ML office as the return address and until the entire production was presented to me in scrapbook form, I had no clue.   The recipients of his plea were famous personalities from both the ‘real’ and bridge worlds.  He solicited responses from the Premier of Quebec, the Mayor of Montreal (fittingly as it was the scene of the crime) and our own Philadelphia Mayor, Pennsylvania Senators and Representatives — as well as Michigan Governor George Romney, California Senator George Murphy, presidential timber Richard M. Nixon, California Governor Ronald Reagan, New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy, New York Mayor John V. Lindsay, Jacqueline Kennedy, et al. plus dozens of his celebrated bridge playing contemporaries.   The gracious replies were unbelievable.

Though I still treasure each and every individual rendering inspired by Norman’s tireless efforts, I want to share two special titillating excerpts from General Gruenther’s message sent from his residence in Washington, D. C.:   It began,  “Dear Judy — That fellow, Norman Kay, has been in the limelight long enough.”  He concluded with, “This, I am confident, is the first of many national championships.  Now if we can only arrange to have you on the North American Team it will be taps for the Italians…..”

Not only was he warm and personable — but his adorable sense of humor tickled my fancy.   Sharing even a fleeting moment or encounter with a man of such profound stature who so strongly impacted the destiny of our nation and the entire world — gave me pause.  Reflections like these serve as humbling reminders of how charmed a life I have been privileged to enjoy — all stemming from our wonderful game.

A LICENSE TO SPLURGE!

January 17th, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  2 Comments 

Whenever Norman would see me at June’s table buying up a storm, he would encourage me to go on my usual spending spree — giving the Linharts all the business I could — as a debt of +470 could never really be repaid and enabled me to enjoy the thrill of a lifetime.

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

January 17th, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  2 Comments 

During my travels, I have encountered many a great player — but few could stand up to the above test on all four counts.  One exception was Grant Baze, a well respected and popular bridge personality from the West Coast.   He was a painfully honest and honorable man — not resembling a politician or even tolerating one.   Sadly, I read today that he lost his long, valiant bout with cancer at the age of 65.   I remember Grant from the Pender-Baze days and we often exchanged warm greetings when I would see him at the Nationals.  I know how disappointing it was to him that he was never elected to the ACBL Hall of Fame, despite his name appearing on the ballot several times.   Many felt he richly deserved the honor, possibly even more so than others who made the grade.  Perhaps he will be voted in posthumously — but  somehow that really doesn’t seem to matter now!

PRELUDE TO A SIGNOFF …..

January 12th, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  1 Comment 

With the history of WOLFF SIGNOFF (WSO) behind us, it is time to get to the nitty-gritty of the convention and its practical applications.   For the sake of simplification and brevity, let us use the following code which I copped from my creative late partner-in-law, Edgar Kaplan:

(M = Major) (OM = Other Major) (m = minor) (om = other minor).  Got it?

Repeating the conditions that are necessary to set the wheels of WSO in full motion ….

1.   One of the partners must make an invitational 2NT bid (not an Opening 2NT).

6.   THEREFORE, ANY CALL OVER AN INVITATIONAL 2NT BID (OTHER THAN 3C) is 100% FORCING TO GAME.

Since there are several ramifications of WSO, today we are only going to handle the original treatment with our side opening the bidding.   Now let us examine specific auctions.

The most commonly known and adopted treatments of WSO begin when the opening bidder, after partner’s response at the one level, jumps to 2NT in the following sequences in an unobstructed auction:

In (a), responder is signing off in 3 of his major; in (b), responder is offering partner a choice to correct to 3S or pass 3H; in (c), partner is insisting on stopping in 3S.  *Please note that the minor opening in (a) or (b) can be either clubs or diamonds and the meaning of 3C does not change.

WSO can also assume a simpler format as below.

There are certain variations of the above.

1.   If the 3C bidder forces 3D and then retreats to 3NT, it was never intended as a weak call, but rather a hand with independent clubs or good support if partner opened with 1C.  (It is similar in nature to the Flint auction where 3D forces partner to bid 3H — and then the diamond bidder does not pass the forced response — but bids 3NT which shows a strong hand with good diamond support).

2.   There are two specialized auctions which must be distinguished as they take on a special complexion:

Since the invitational bids of 2NT do not necessarily deny a four card spade holding, it is important to learn more about partner’s hand.   In (a), the responder shows five or more hearts and four spades (just as it sounds to the ear).   In (b), the 3C bid (starting out as WSO) now shows four hearts and four spades — allowing you a choice of contracts (3NT, 4H, 4S — or even considering the possibility of a slam).   Both auctions, of course, are 100% forcing.

3.   The sequences below are NATURAL — to play:

To sum up WOLFF SIGNOFF:   The 3C call sets the stage for a full scale evacuation (at the three level if possible), keeping casualties to a minimum. Some good guidelines ….

1.   The red flag has been waved by the 3C bidder.

6.   WSO was specifically designed for unbalanced weak-suited hands to escape from No Trump.

(*Auctions referring to interference bidding will be discussed separately at a later date).

THE WOLFF SIGNOFF (WSO)

January 10th, 2009  ~  Judy Kay-Wolff  ~  4 Comments 

The Wolff Signoff came into existence very early in Bobby’s career — in fact, long before many people knew how to spell Wolff.  He chose to play an adaptation of the Flint Convention (introduced by world class British player, Jeremy Flint).   Flint introduced a method for a partnership to stop short of game after a strong opening call.   Specifically, it dealt with a 2NT opening where partner’s 3D response directed the opener to respond 3H.  The 3D bidder could pass the forced call of 3H (if that was his suit) or bid 3S, 4C or 4D which the opener was expected to pass.  

Bobby saw much merit to this stop-on-a-dime method and in 1956 convinced his friend, partner and mentor Ozzie Jacoby to incorporate it into their system.   Ozzie, who was also a popular nationally syndicated Bridge Columnist, did him one better.  He labeled the convention Wolff  Signoff and for five days running diligently dedicated his column to its effectiveness — recommending its use and showcasing the many different auctions in which it could successfully be applied.   Thus, the birth of WOLFF SIGNOFF.                                                                                                                           

The underlying intent of WOLFF SIGNOFF is to distinguish between a FORCING AUCTION and a SIGNOFF after partner has made an invitational (non-forcing) call of 2NT (not to be confused with an opening 2NT bid).  The conditions apply in WSO whether in a contested or uncontested auction and can be applied by either opener or responder.   The purpose of this convention is to allow a weak hand to ‘get out’ of the forcing mode after a 2NT invitational call by partner.   The warning light goes on when the partner of the NTer bids 3C, forcing a 3D bid and then the club bidder makes the final contract determination.    It is predominantly directed at steering the contract away from NT and into a long suit.

THE GENERAL RULE — VERY SIMPLY STATED:  WHEN ANY BID (OTHER THAN 3C) IS MADE IN RESPONSE TO PARTNER’S INVITATIONAL 2NT CALL — IT IS 100% FORCING TO GAME.

Since its inception over fifty years ago, it has been expanded to encompass a variety of related auctions.   If you check the Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, you will only find a brief thumbnail description of the original version.   Stay tuned — as I detail the modern application of Wolff Signoff in the week to come.