ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I opened one spade, the next hand overcalled two diamonds and partner bid three diamonds, showing a good raise. I tried four spades with ; A-K-10-6-4, k Q-10-6, l 8, ' A-10-6-2 and missed a slam when partner held a 4=0=4=5 hand with the spade queen, diamond ace and club queenjack. Where did we go wrong?

-- Perfect Fit, Newark, N.J.

DEAR READER: This cue bid shows an invitational hand or better. Opener might consider going slow here just in case responder has some slam potential. Here, you could bid four diamonds over three diamonds, showing short diamonds, but some would feel this guarantees slam interest. This would be a good hand for a splinter bid of four hearts from your partner, but that should be to play.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I went down in a slam when an opponent asked if my response to Roman Key Card Blackwood showed or denied the trump queen. I decided to finesse into him on the basis that he would not ask the question with that card. You can imagine my dismay when the finesse lost. Should I have taken no notice?

— Fatal Inference, Miami, Fla.

DEAR READER: I would call this a shady tactic on the part of your opponent, but I have come to ignore such intangible factors. I would just make the play I would have made without the interaction. You could have called the director if you felt you were damaged, but you would effectively be calling your opponent’s ethics into question.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I play Drury with my regular partner. What would you say is the minimum for this bid?

— Daring Douglas, Sioux Falls, S.D.

DEAR READER: Playing this method, a two-club response to a one-heart or onespade opening as a passed hand shows a good raise — typically 9-11, but you might stretch a bit more with fourcard support. A direct raise of the major is weaker than that. In two-way Drury, two diamonds shows a four-card raise, and two clubs a threecard raise.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What is the right bid holding ♠ K-Q-J-9-6-5-3, ♥ K-5-3, ♦ 9, ♣ 5-4 after partner opens one heart and the next hand overcalls two clubs?

— Good Suit, Casper, Wyo.

DEAR READER: I would normally raise partner’s major with three or more cards as my first priority, but my spades are too good to ignore here. I prefer to play in spades unless facing extreme shortness. I would bid two spades and follow up with four hearts unless partner supports spades. A jump to four spades might leave your side poorly positioned if the opponents sacrifice.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: How would you defend against a Flannery two diamonds?

— Double Major, Danville, Ill.

DEAR READER: A Flannery two-diamond opening shows five or more hearts and exactly four spades in a minimum opening of 11-15 points or so. I would double to show a balanced 13-15 or a very strong hand, just as most do over a Multi two-diamond call. Two hearts is for takeout, but two spades is natural, as is two no-trump. Subsequent doubles from both sides are takeout.