ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What are Rusinow leads? Would you recommend them?

— Up the Walls, Honolulu, Hawaii

DEAR READER: The most common method of leading from honor sequences is to lead the top card. With Rusinow leads, you conventionally start with the second-highest of touching honors. My preference is to lead the king from ace-king but the top from other sequences.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: How should one advance partner’s overcall after a strong one-club opening?

— Outgunned, North Bay, Ontario

DEAR READER: Try to get in the opponents’ way after they open a strong club, since their side probably has the balance of power. It is acceptable to overcall on weak hands, to direct the lead or to try to put up a barrage. Thus, it is rare to advance facing an overcall without a good suit of your own or a fit for partner. No-trump calls should not be natural but ought to be used to show a good raise for partner’s suit.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What would you do with this? You pick up ; A-7-6-5,

k A-Q , l K-4, ' A-K-J-9-7, vulnerable against not. You hear three passes, and you are up in fourth chair.

— Opening Gambit, Worcester, Mass.

DEAR READER: I would open one club. If my partner will respond with any excuse, I am unlikely to miss a game. By starting low, I can follow up with a game-forcing jump to two spades over a red-suit response, followed by a notrump bid. Forcing to game by opening two clubs would be an overbid, and a twono-trump opening may miss clubs or spades. If I survive the first round of bidding, I will be well-positioned.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I had ; K-Q-8-2, k Q, l Q-J7-3, ' K-J-8-7 at favorable vulnerability. My left-hand opponent opened three hearts, which was raised to four hearts on my right. I passed and watched them chalk up 620. Partner had five spades, so a four-spade sacrifice would have paid out only 50. Should I have acted?

— Shape Suitable, Sunbury, Pa.

DEAR READER: I think it is the percentage action to double four hearts for takeout. Then, partner should strive to bid spades. I would say your defensive prospects against hearts are not excellent since you do not hold any aces, but your offense is good if you find a fit — in which case a sacrifice should be cheap at this vulnerability.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Some people say that it is good tactics to double a natural two-no-trump opening for business in the pass-out seat. Is there anything to be said for this?

— Old School, Jackson, Miss.

DEAR READER: The theory is that a declarer with 20 or so points, facing 1 or 2, will struggle to get to dummy to take his finesses and establish his suits. True, but I would not routinely double for penalties. First, if you are wrong, you will be doubling them into game. Second, the opponents may remember you and pass a two-no-trump opening when they would otherwise raise to game, which could be costly. Finally, either side might be able to rescue themselves into a long suit.