ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I recently had this lead problem: ♠ J-7-2, ♥ A-J5, ♦ Q-10-5-2, ♣ Q-9-5. My right-hand-opponent opened one no-trump, and my lefthand opponent transferred to spades and then bid three no-trump. Righty then converted to four spades. What would your choice be?

— Kick Off, Grenada, Miss. DEAR READER: Anything could be right, but a diamond offers the best balance of risk to reward. A trump could be safe but may also blow a trick when partner has a high card in that suit. A club is more dangerous than a diamond since declarer is more likely to have club length. A heart away from the ace, into a strong notrump, is unthinkable.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I had a tricky bidding problem on this hand: ♠ A-8-7, ♥ A-J-7, ♦ A-K-J-8-6-5, ♣ 6. At game all, I opened one diamond, and my partner responded one spade. What say you? — Rabid Rebid,

Levittown, Pa. DEAR READER: I would bid two hearts. A three-diamond call risks losing spades. To treat this hand as a misfitting single-suiter would be a distortion, but a direct raise to three spades would guarantee a fourth trump. The reverse into hearts looks safe: If partner raises hearts, he must have five spades. Meanwhile, two hearts keeps you nice and low. If your style is for responder to rebid a five-card spade suit over the reverse, the rest of the auction should unfold naturally.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Say your left-hand opponent opens one diamond, and partner overcalls two diamonds to show both majors. What options do you have with strong hands when your right-hand opponent passes?

— Michaels Misdemeanor, Saint John, New Brunswick DEAR READER: Two notrump is unlikely to be needed as natural. You can play two no-trump as a raise of the lower suit, hearts, and the higher cue-bid of three diamonds as a raise of the higher suit, spades. This way, responder can invite game rather than just punting it, and can perhaps start to investigate for slam. A jump to three of a major should be based on shape, not high cards, with a bid in the fourth suit natural and forcing.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Do you think kibitzers should be allowed for online matches? — Watch on the Rhine,

Selma, Ala. DEAR READER: I think they should, lest a part of bridge tradition be lost. This is especially so in the big matches; otherwise, people would not be able to watch their bridge heroes in action, one of the big upsides of the online game. The issue of self-kibitzing remains, but we cannot spoil the fun of the many just to prevent the unethical actions of the few. DEAR MR. WOLFF:

What is the difference between a hand and a deal? How should the terms be properly used? — Deterrent, Elkhart, Ind. DEAR READER: A deal encompasses the positions of all 52 cards; a hand is the 13 cards held by one player. Of course, everyone understands when the word “hand” is used for the full deal, but there is still a place for everything and everything in its place.

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