ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

In response to our one-diamond opener in standard methods with J-9-4-3-2, A-J-10-3, J-4, 7-2, what would you suggest as a response here — one heart or one spade? I wasn’t sure what to do since the hearts are so much better than the spades, and with a somewhat weak hand, I didn’t think responder would want to take too many bids. On the other hand, bypassing hearts with one spade might lead to missing a fit.

— Douglas Fir, Fredericksburg, Va. DEAR READER: Normally, you would bid one spade, planning to play spades if partner raises them, of course. But if he rebids diamonds, you pass, and if he rebids one no-trump, you bid two hearts (non-invitational, or else we would use New Minor or the like). If partner rebids two clubs, I’ll reluctantly give preference to two diamonds. As you say, the flaw with the oneheart response is to miss a 5-3 spade fit after partner’s one-no-trump rebid. No matter how weak the suit, a 5-3 fit will likely play better than a 4-3 fit.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Are there any new security devices being considered to try to prevent the recent rash of cheating we have been hearing about at the top level?

— Block and Tackle,

Kansas City, Mo. DEAR READER: The screens currently in use seem to prevent all but the more determined colluders from exchanging information, and nothing is ever going to stop people from attempting to cheat if they really want to. I suspect electronic signaling is the method that worries the authorities the most, but if there are countermeasures in place, they certainly wouldn’t tell me (and I might not tell you).

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner held 10-7-5,

K-9-6-3, 9-6-2, J-5-3, with both sides vulnerable. He heard three hearts to his left and double from me, so he had to decide on the least of evils. He chose to bid three spades, and I raised him to game with a 4-1-3-5 16-count, down three. Our best result comes from defending three hearts doubled, which we can set one on competent defense.

— Prince Regent,

Dubuque, Iowa DEAR READER: I would guess to pass, because any action I take might cost more than conceding three hearts doubled! Additionally, this should be a decent score if we beat it, given the vulnerability, while guessing the best part-score may not score us that well. Incidentally, are you sure you were supposed to bid game here? Didn’t you need partner almost to have a fourspade call for him to have a chance to make game, since you are really not providing that many extras for him?

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What are the standard requirements for a strong-two opening? It seems people are opening with any long suit and less than 18 highcard points. I imagine there are no set rules, but are there any rules of thumb?

— Danny Deaver,

Selma, Ala. DEAR READER: There may be no strict high-card limit on the action, but you want to have a certain number of honor tricks — I’d say an absolute minimum of at least 2 quick tricks in aces and kings. I might open a strong two if I’m worried partner might pass my opening bid with scattered values but no fit, yet we might still make game. In practice, this often means a two-suiter is the hand type that qualifies most when my high cards might otherwise not justify the action.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner faced a problem with nobody vulnerable when he heard a weak two spades to his left, doubled by me. The next hand raised to three spades. Would you pass, double or bid four clubs now with his hand: J-4, Q-7-6, K-5-2, K-Q-10-6-4? And how should I construe a double here — as asking for hearts or some other suit?

— Patted Down,

Sunbury, Pa, DEAR READER: My instincts are that one must act here, and a simple call of four clubs makes sense to me. Double suggests both minors, in which case your partner is likely to bid suits up the line, assuming his partner does not have hearts, or he would just bid them over three spades. This is not an exact science, though. Finding a fit on these high-level auctions requires judgment, not to mention a fair amount of good fortune from time to time.