ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I have tried hard to explain to my bridge class how the Monty Hall problem works and how it applies to bridge in the form of the principle of restricted choice. I’m not sure I’ve convinced them yet. Do you have a patented method? — Razor’s Edge, Tupelo, Miss.

DEAR READER: Imagine you are missing the queen, jack, five and four of trumps. You lead to the ace, and your left-hand opponent produces one of the honors. Should you finesse next or play for the drop? Well, a singleton honor is almost twice as likely as the queen-jack doubleton, even though any specific singleton is slightly less likely than a specific doubleton. With queen-jack doubleton, the player has a choice of cards to play; with a singleton honor, he has no choice.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: In second seat vulnerable, you hold ♠ 2, ♥ K-9-4, ♦ A-K-104-3, ♣ K-J-5-4. After a fourspade bid on your right, I assume you would double to show a good hand. Partner now bids four no-trump. What does that call mean, and what should I do next? — Mumbles, Wausau, Wis.

DEAR READER: Partner’s call suggests a two-suiter, to which you respond by bidding your better minor at the five-level — unless your hand is so strong that you want to drive to slam. Be aware, though, that your partner might have hearts and clubs, planning to correct five diamonds to five hearts. The wisest bid here is five clubs, to ensure finding a good fit, if not the best.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: After opponents have opened one no-trump, does the meaning of their double of a transfer bid depend on the range of the no-trump, and on whether yours is a passed or unpassed hand? Should it promise a good suit, a good hand or both? — Coming Up for Air, Newport News, Va.

DEAR READER: Yes, the range of the no-trump and whether yours is a passed hand are both critical here. Double by an unpassed hand after the opponents have opened anything but a strong notrump shows a good hand but not necessarily a great holding in the suit doubled. Any other double should be lead-directing, showing a good suit but not necessarily guaranteeing a good hand.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Please recommend some books that might help me master the percentages in order to gain a basic knowledge of the essentials in bridge? — Captain Crunch, Albany, N.Y.

DEAR READER: Kelsey and Glauert wrote informatively on this subject, but for the truly devoted expert, there are highly complex books by Borel and Roudinesco. The normal player, however, can get by with only a few basic rules. Learn the normal splits missing three, four, five or six cards, and you really don’t need much else. The ACBL’s most recent version of the Encyclopedia of Bridge certainly covers those basics.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Recently, I held ♠ Q-J-4-2, ♥ 10-7, ♦ 10-9-8-6, ♣ J-83, and my opponents bid unopposed one club - one no-trump - two no-trump - three no-trump. What would you have led here? (The winning lead was a heart, since partner had five decent hearts and an entry.) — Right Said Fred, Harrisburg, Pa.

DEAR READER: Dummy probably has a balanced 18 with some club length, while declarer has no major and is therefore 4-4 or so in the minors. Partner needs to have 10-11 points to give you a chance, but he didn’t bid. I would guess partner’s shape to be 3-4-3-3 (again, give or take a card), and I’d lead a diamond, hoping dummy has a doubleton queen or jack. I’d never expect my partner to refrain from bidding with values and five hearts.