ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

In a recent lead problem where you had a six-count, you advised attacking from queen-third in an unbid major against a no-trump contract. Would it be better to lead low or high? I worry about blocking the suit and misleading my partner that I have a four-card suit. What about leading from a doubleton queen — would you suggest low or high?

— Bow at a Venture,

Manhattan DEAR READER: I’d always lead low from three to an honor; it might conceivably block the suit, but here your partner has plenty of high-cards, so this will be only a minor problem. By contrast, leading an unsupported honor might cost a trick in so many different ways — especially in an unbid suit. From a doubleton honor, I lead the honor in partner’s bid suit and try not to lead it at all if it is not.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I do not understand the implied contradiction between your statement in a recent answer that, if missing four cards, a 3-1 break is more likely than a 2-2 break, since you also say: Play for the drop when missing four cards to the queen. How can you reconcile the two ideas? — Number Cruncher,

Ketchikan, Alaska DEAR READER: In general, a 3-1 break is more likely than a 2-2 break. But when deciding whether to finesse on the second round with a nine-card holding, you normally reach a position where one defender has followed twice, so you must halve that original 3-1 percentage. I should emphasize how close the original percentages are, though. Any known shortness or length in your opponents’ hands may tip you to the finesse.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding ♠ K-9, ♥ Q-4-3,

♦ A-J-4-2, ♣ Q-7-4-3, I heard my partner open one club, and I responded one diamond. What would you do if your partner then raised to three diamonds? Should you settle for three notrump, show a major in the hope of reaching three notrump when it is right, or look for slam?

— Flat Earther,

San Francisco DEAR READER: Your soft values suggest bidding three no-trump, since if partner is short in one major, so that your values there are wasted, you may not make any game. If I did explore, I guess I would bid three spades. I really think it is just a guess, and the three no-trump call is the least bad option.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: In third seat, opening light in a major suit seems protected by the fact that your partner has Drury available. But should a third-seat opening in a minor be very close to opening bid strength? And where there is a choice, would opening a reasonable four-card major be better? — Pushing the Boat Out,

Doylestown, Pa. DEAR READER:

With hands in the 10-12 range, open a good suit if you have one, planning to pass as soon as is sensible. With a full if minimum opener in the range 12-14, I tend to make my normal opening bid, planning to keep the auction open. A lead-directing call with a four-card major is relatively unusual, though not absurd, of course. Pass balanced 10-counts unless you know what you want partner to lead.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: With strong, balanced hands is it logical to extend the 3-point range approach, so that after opening two clubs, a rebid of two notrump shows 22-24, and a rebid of three no-trump shows 25-27? Also, what should a three-no-trump opener show? A balanced powerhouse, or gambling with a long minor?

— Tier-jerker, Saint John’s, Newfoundland DEAR READER: Use 3-point ranges for a one-notrump opening and rebid. You can invite facing those sequences, but you have to put up or shut up facing a two-no-trump opening or rebid. Maybe use an upper limit of 17 with no five-card suit for a one-no-trump opener, and a good 11 to a bad 14 for the one-no-trump rebid if you want to be daring. Use 2-point ranges for the higher actions. If you play the Kokish two heart rebid (see bit.ly/AoBKokish), you can have your cake and eat it, too.