ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: A recent problem in pairs had us scratching our heads. I opened one club holding ♠ Q-J-8-2, ♥3, ♦ A-Q-10, ♣ K-Q-9-4-2. My LHO overcalled one heart, my partner bid one no-trump, my RHO tried two hearts and I had to decide what to do. I know my partner does not have spades, so should I pass, double or bid either two notrump or three clubs?

— Last Strain,

Troy, N.Y. DEAR READER: Passing is clearly wrong, when the opponents have a big fit. Meanwhile, double should be balanced extras, so the choice is which suit to bid. I think two spades is best, showing clubs and spades and letting partner go forward as he sees fit. A call of two no-trump might be played as artificial by some (bit.ly/AoBGoodBad2NT), but if not, it would be a source of tricks in clubs and not enough for game — maybe five or six club tricks in a minimum balanced hand.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner and I did not agree on a double, so we need you to provide a Solomonic ruling, please. My LHO opened one club, and my partner doubled. I responded one spade, holding jack-10-fifth of spades and the doubleton diamond king. Now my LHO came again with two diamonds, and my partner doubled. What does that mean?

— Seconds Out, Charleston, S.C. DEAR READER: I cannot say for sure that there is a standard interpretation. I’d expect this to be extras with three spades, so I might bid two spades now. For such a simple auction, I agree there should be a standard interpretation, but I think it should just be a good hand with no clear call.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My question is about game tries in an uncontested auction after a major suit is raised to two. Where do you stand on long- and shortsuit game tries, and what about bids in no-trump or a re-raise of the trump suit? — Trying Hard,

Pittsburgh DEAR READER: A simple approach is to use new suits as help tries (three or four cards to one top honor is typical), notrump calls as natural, and a re-raise as pre-emptive. Another approach is to use step one as promising shortage somewhere — the next three calls as long-suit tries. This approach is called Rosenkranz and is discussed at bit.ly/AoBRosenkranz.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: After opening two no-trump with a flat 20-21, passed out, declarer may often end up playing a hopeless contract facing a flat near-bust dummy. Is opening such hands at one of a minor worth considering as an alternative opening? — Dark Side, Lorain, Ohio DEAR READER: You can’t go through life with your umbrella open just in case it is about to rain. Similarly, while the two-notrump opener isn’t the best part of a standard system, you must use it to describe the balanced 20-21 HCP hands. Opening one of a minor won’t let you describe that hand precisely. So don’t worry — be happy.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: In answer to an online inquiry, you responded, in part: “The reason is that second hand is supposed to pass with a flat minimum opening, which cannot double.” I recall in a previous column answer, you indicated that, when on the fence, it is generally best to err on the side of getting into the auction. With a balanced hand, when do you bid and when do you pass?

— Joining Battle, Gatlinburg, Tenn. DEAR READER: Let’s take a 4-3-3-3 pattern after a minor-suit opening bid to your right. With 14 or more, you either double or overcall one no-trump. With 11, you’d almost always pass. With 12 or 13, you would tend to double unless partner is a passed hand and you have significant defense against the suit opened. Ace-third is a perfectly acceptable holding, while K-Q-x is a far less attractive one. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at