ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I was in fourth seat, with K-4-3, 8-2, 10-7-4, K-Q-6-3-2. I heard a weak two hearts on my left, doubled by my partner. I saw no reason to bid more than three clubs, so I played there, missing a decent, makable game in no-trump when my partner had 16 points with all four aces. What should I have done? — An Unsuitable Boy,

Provo, Utah DEAR READER: If two no-trump was available as natural, I might have risked that call. The modern expert solution to this problem is to give up a natural two no-trump call and use it as a transfer to three clubs (to show a weak hand in clubs or diamonds), while a direct call of three of a minor promises values — a call your cards would barely be worth. This is an extension of a popular convention called Lebensohl.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I thought I had a difficult call in a teams game, holding J-2, Q-J-9-4, A-K, K-10-6-3-2, after hearing a one-diamond opening bid to my right. I could not sensibly overcall in either of my suits, could I? But bidding one no-trump seemed out of range and flawed for many other reasons.

— Frozen Solid,

Portland, Ore. DEAR READER: I agree that the one-no-trump call seems wrong, but I suppose you could persuade me otherwise if the spade jack were the queen. Then, if doubled, I would probably run to two clubs. As it is, I would pass and hope to get the chance to double spades for take-out on my second turn. If forced to bid, an overcall of one heart might not be the worst bid in the world.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: If using fourth-suit forcing, do you recommend any differences in the specific case at the one-level after one club - one diamond - one heart? Might this be treated as other than forcing to game? In that case, two spades would be game forcing, but not necessarily spades.

— Seeking Symbiosis,

Texarkana, Texas DEAR READER: This is the way that I have been playing fourth-suit forcing for many years. The only suggestion I would offer is that in this sequence, the one-spade call is only forcing for one round, and when followed by minimum action is invitational; but jumps create a game force. Similarly, responder’s direct jump to two spades specifically denies as many as four spades.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I am dipping my toe into the waters of playing two-overone game forcing. Where do you stand on playing responder’s bid of one notrump facing a major-suit opener: forcing, semi-forcing or non-forcing?

— Baby Steps,

Bristol, Va. DEAR READER: I prefer that responder never bid one no-trump with more than a dead minimum opener — say a balanced 13 HCP and no five-card suit. That allows opener to pass with a balanced and dead-minimum hand. With as many as 14 HCP, he should introduce a three-card minor. If you play Flannery (so opener never has the problem of what to do with a minimum hand with 4-5 in the majors), you get the best of almost every world.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: You said you would elaborate on showing minors in response to a two no-trump opener. I’m holding your feet to the fire, if I may, for your rundown of the best methods.

— The Waiting Game,

Worcester, Mass. DEAR READER:

One possibility is to play three spades as minor-suit Stayman (now over three no-trump, denying a minor, opener shows a five-card minor with the majors being shortness and 5-5 pattern). This requires you to use Stayman with a one-suiter in a minor. An alternative is to use three spades as a puppet for three no-trump, after which one-suited minors bid the other minor. Calls of four hearts and four spades show the 5-4 minor hands, and four no-trump shows 5-5 minors.