ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I held Q-3, A-J-9, K-J10-2, J-10-6-2, and opened one diamond. When my partner responded one spade, I rebid one notrump, and my partner bid two hearts, natural and non-forcing. What would you do now?

— Settling Down,

Muncie, Ind. DEAR READER: The choice is between giving preference to two spades and passing two hearts. I think your good hearts and weak spades argue for passing; after all, you might even be in a 5-3 fit, in which case you would certainly be pleased with your decision.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I’m about to start directing at my club, and I would welcome a little help. When a director is called to the table after a break in tempo, what is the standard procedure to follow?

— Beri-Beri, Kenosha, Wis. DEAR READER: Ask the player who called you to the table to set out the facts. Then ask the other players to make sure you have the facts right. Decide whether a break in tempo took place (or at least was established to your satisfaction). Let the play proceed, and tell the players to call you back if they aren’t happy. If they do, and you determined that there was indeed a break, then you must decide whether it could demonstrably have suggested the action chosen by the partner of the hesitator. If it did, consider adjusting the score.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: In second seat, I opened one no-trump with K-3, A-10-7-3-2, K-Q-3, A-10-4. I heard an overcall of two clubs on my left, showing clubs and a major. When that was passed around to me, I tried two hearts; was that too aggressive? Anyway, now my partner bid two spades. Should I bid or pass?— Lucy Locket,

Galveston, Texas DEAR READER: The two-heart call was a little aggressive, but I suspect I would have done the same. Your partner’s decision to bid two spades might be based on a 4-1-4-4 pattern, but more likely he has five or more spades and fewer than 5 HCP, with at most a doubleton heart. So I would pass. The good news is that while you have only two spades, your cards in the side suits should work reasonably well.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: How far should you compete with a fit when the opponents get in your face? I held A-10-9-7, K-5-3,

A-J-4-3, J-9, and opened one diamond; my partner responded one spade. I was planning to raise to two, when the next hand pre-empted in hearts. Given that I have a minimum hand, it is easy to raise to two spades, but should I compete to three spades over a three-heart call?

— Mumbles, Bellingham, Wash. DEAR READER: My general rule is that in competition you can be forced to give support one level higher than you wanted to go, but not two. So bid three spades over a three-heart pre-empt since, as these things go, your hand has decent controls. With the heart queen instead of the king, pass three hearts. With a real invitation to three spades, it follows that you must jump to four spades.

DEAR MR. WOLFF:

I need help understanding what sort of hand allows you to raise partner’s suit (be it an opening or overcall) and then double at your next turn. Is this penalty, cards or takeout?

— Fruit-Loops,

Indianapolis DEAR READER: If the opponents come in with an unsupported suit, then a double by either hand sounds like a defensive holding. Conversely, if the opponents have raised a suit, the double sounds like extras in high cards, typically with the minimum number of trumps for the action thus far.