ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: My partner was dealt K-5-4, A-4, J-10-2, A-Q-6-5-4. When I opened one club, he bid three notrump, claiming that this was the best way to describe a balanced 13-15 hand without a four-card major. Since my heart suit was a singleton jack, this was not a success, and five clubs would have been very easy to make. Can you recommend methods that would have helped us? — Gidget the Gadget,

Vancouver, Wash. DEAR READER: Two possible answers: In the old days, you would play three clubs as forcing. Nowadays inverted minors (using two clubs to show a limit raise or better) are common. If you don’t play either of these, then maybe you have to temporize with a one-diamond response — but frankly, the three notrump response is a perfectly reasonable alternative.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What is the best way to handle a balanced hand with 4-4 in the majors and about 6-7 HCP opposite a strong notrump opening? Until now I have passed, figuring we are probably in a reasonable spot. My assumption was that if I used Stayman and we didn’t find a 4-4 fit, we would probably be worse off than if I had passed.

— Misfit, Mitchell, S.D. DEAR READER: I suggest you look at the strength of your majors and doubleton and bid accordingly. With values in the majors, use Stayman, but equally clearly, with values in your short suits, you would pass. With the first hand, a 4-3 fit might play better than one no-trump, while with the second hand, no-trump might play better than a 4-4 fit.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Say you hold 5, 10-2,

A-Q-8-5-4 K-J-9-3. You open one diamond and hear a one-heart response. Should you raise hearts (and to what level) as opposed to bidding two clubs? — Fielder’s Choice,

Harrisburg, Pa. DEAR READER: While your hand is suitable for raising hearts — the call shows four trumps or three and a ruffing value — your hand is a tad too strong for the simple raise. If you bid two clubs and then convert partner’s club or diamond preference to hearts, you show extras and this precise shape. You are a dead minimum for the auction, but you are worth it because of your controls.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Playing five hearts, I lost the first trick. I was due to make 12 tricks, until an opponent revoked by ruffing, after which I took all of the remaining tricks for a total of 11. When the revoke was caught, the director declared that since we took all of the remaining tricks after the revoke was established, we should be awarded one overtrick for “equity” reasons. Why didn’t the revoke cost our opponents anything? They finished up with the same score they would have received without the revoke.

— No Fair! San Antonio DEAR READER: The revoke law is not designed to restore equity as its primary function; it’s a penalty. If you revoke but do not personally win the trick, it is a one-trick penalty — but only if your side wins one trick or more. If you revoke and win the trick with the card you played on the trick, it is a two-trick penalty — but only if your side wins two more tricks. Most revokes cost blood, so your opponents just got lucky!