Aces on Bridge

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Assume you are dealt SPADES J-4, HEARTS K-5, DIAMONDS A-7-5-4-2, CLUBS A-J-4-2, and you open one diamond. When your partner responds one heart and the next hand overcalls one spade, I assume you would bid two clubs. What should you do when your partner probes with two spades?

— Choice of Weevils

ANSWER: The decision is easier if you have already denied three hearts by your failure to make a support double. Then you can bid three hearts to show a decent doubleton. You might be forced to do that even if your partner might read you for three trumps (which he probably should not, since you might then have raised hearts at your second turn).

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I picked up SPADES Q-4-2, HEARTS K-7, DIAMONDS A-10-8-65-3, CLUBS J-3, and when my partner passed and my right-hand opponent opened one spade, I passed rather than overcalling two diamonds. Was that reasonable? If my left-hand opponent raises to two spades, should I balance with three diamonds now?

— Comeback Charlie

ANSWER: Your weak spade length argues for passing at your first turn, especially facing a passed partner. Once your opponents have limited their hands, you can infer spade shortness in your partner’s hand. So, balancing with three diamonds seems perfectly reasonable.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: We play fourth suit as game-forcing, but what would you recommend for the meaning of one spade after our side bids unopposed: one club - one diamond - one heart? Should it be a one-round force or game-forcing, and does it promise or deny spade length?

— Sally Fourth

ANSWER: There is no clear best way to play here, but the simplest is to play one spade as natural — consistent with, but not promising four. Your partner will support with four trumps. Responder’s jump to two spades shows diamonds and spades 5-6, strong. Another common agreement is to play that one of those calls shows four spades, and one denies four. And a third option is to play one spade as natural but not a game force.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I picked up SPADES J-6-4, HEARTS Q-9-3-2, DIAMONDS K-105, CLUBS A-8-3, and my partner opened one notrump. I simply bid three no-trump rather than going through Stayman, reasoning that even if we did find a heart fit, we might take the same tricks in no-trump as in hearts. Naturally, though, my partner had the doubleton spade ace and four hearts, so hearts played far better. Was I taking too strong a position?

— Hidden Treasures

ANSWER: Your actual route is fine by me so as not to give away information. Some people play Puppet Stayman so that they can show hearts while their partner does not promise or deny a spade suit. In the absence of that, I’d go along with your call.