ACES ON BRIDGE

Dear Mr. Wolff: What is the best way to iron out bidding misunderstandings during a match?

— Proper Procedure,

Tupelo, Miss. Dear Reader: If the same bit of system is unlikely to arise again in the set, I would wait until after the session, or else you might get dragged into a postmortem during the game. If it is a common bidding situation, then it might be worth calmly confirming what the agreement is. “In case it comes up again” is a diplomatic way of starting the conversation even if your partner is clearly in the wrong!

Dear Mr. Wolff: Would you take any action with ♠ 9-7-3, ♥ 7-3, ♦ Q-J-8-7-6-3, ♣ J-3, not vulnerable against vulnerable, after partner passes and your right-hand opponent opens two clubs?

— Their Hand, Edmonton, Alberta Dear Reader: I would overcall three diamonds, exploiting the vulnerability to consume as much bidding space as possible. Your right-hand opponent has not been able to show anything about his distribution yet, so making him start at the three-level might make it tough for his side to reach the right strain, or even to figure out which level they belong at.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

Say you pick up ♠ 10-8-7-5-4-3-2, ♥ 7-5, ♦ 4, ♣ K-8-6 at favorable vulnerability. You hear a weak two in diamonds on your right and three notrump on your left, back to you. Would you be tempted to bid?

— Blind Guess,

Augusta, Ga. Dear Reader: Anything could be right. The colors are good for a speculative four-spade bid, and three no-trump seems likely to make. The opponents might decide to bid five diamonds over four spades, which cannot be bad for our side. However, it could be that you are beating three notrump on a club lead while four spades could be quite costly; indeed, it may go for a telephone number. I would pass and look for easier ways to earn my points.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I have heard people say that Roman Key-Card Blackwood for clubs is a blunt sword. Why is that?

— Too High,

Boise, Idaho Dear Reader: If you bid four no-trump to ask for key-cards with clubs agreed, partner’s responses are likely to take you too high. Even with enough for a small slam, there will not be much space below six clubs to investigate for a grand slam. Thus, many play a different key-card ask for clubs, perhaps four clubs or four diamonds, with four no-trump as some sort of artificial slam-try. I would not necessarily recommend this, though. Sound judgment can preclude the need for key-card asking.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What would you do with ♠ K-J-84-2, ♥ J-10-7-5-2, ♦ —-, ♣ Q-J8 after your right-hand-opponent opens one diamond in third seat at game all?

— Suit Disparity,

Casper, Wyo. Dear Reader: At this vulnerability, I think a Michaels cue-bid of two diamonds, to show both majors, would be irresponsible with such a bad hand and poor hearts. I would just overcall one spade, getting my better suit into the auction. Give me the heart queen in addition, and I’m fine with the Michaels cuebid.