ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Why do you sanction leading second-highest from three or four small cards in no-trump, but dislike the same approach against a suit? And is it ever acceptable to lead high (not middle) from three or four? — Roman in the Gloaming, Little Rock DEAR READER: From three small cards against a suit, I believe one should lead top or bottom. I do not like playing the middle card since I frequently fail to read the initial holding until it is too late. I lead high from a bad holding only when I have raised partner, so I am unlikely to have two. Sometimes, though, the auction has made it clear that I must have length. I’m more likely to lead a higher spot when defending no-trump since I hope my partner will infer I am not playing for a ruff.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: In an unopposed auction, I opened one diamond, my partner bid one heart and I bid one spade. Now my partner jumped to two no-trump, and holding an 18-count, I took this to be stronger than a jump to three no-trump. So I bid Blackwood, and we ended up in a hopeless slam. My partner and the opponents said the jump on the second round was a standard bid showing 10 or 11 points. Have I missed something all these years? — Over the Top,

Denver, Colo. DEAR READER: In the good old days, a jump to two no-trump did indeed show a better hand than a bid of three no-trump. Not anymore. Your partner hit the nail on the head when he described the hand as invitational to game and balanced. Incidentally, your four-no-trump call over two no-trump should be quantitative and invitational to slam, not Blackwood, since no trump suit was agreed upon.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: As responder, I held A-Q-105-3, A, Q-J-10-9, K-7-3. My partner opened one heart and rebid two clubs. When I used the fourth suit, he rebid two no-trump, suggesting 1-5-3-4 or 0-5-44 distribution. Would you look for higher things in diamonds now, or go low? — Felix the Cat, Holland, Mich. DEAR READER: After the rebid of two no-trump, it seems reasonable to bid three no-trump. You might miss a slam when both hands have a little extra, but I play that the call of two no-trump shows 12 to 14, so slam is a long way away. (I’d jump to three notrump with hands in the 15 to 17 range and 5-4 pattern, while I would raise to three diamonds with 0-5-4-4 pattern.)

DEAR MR. WOLFF: If I hear an overcall of four spades over my partner’s one-diamond call, should my double be based on tricks, trumps or generally high cards? I made the call with a 3-3-3-4 11-point hand. My partner passed the double, claiming it was wholly for penalties, and four spades made. Worse, we were cold for five diamonds — and I got the blame! — Cui Culpa,

Saint John, New Brunswick DEAR READER: I won’t say you were entirely blameless here, since a lot depends on your precise agreements. I’d argue that one should use the double here as simply showing a good hand, with values that should work on offense as well as on defense, not a trump stack. Partner’s duty is to bid on with significant extra shape, which is what it sounds like he had. When you have a weak hand with trump tricks as responder, pass smoothly and await the re-opening double.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: How strong is a balancing overcall of one no-trump? Is it closer to a strong notrump or a weak no-trump — and what conventions should one play in response to it? — Seeking Protection, West Palm Beach, Fla. DEAR READER: I play this overcall as 11 to 15, but more often at the lower end over a minor-suit opening bid. The reason for keeping the range less than you would in direct seat is that you can’t afford to let the opponents steal the contract when you have a balanced opening bid. Equally, if you double with all good hands, partner will never know what shape you have. So use the no-trump overcall as a minimum balanced hand, double, then bid no-trump with a true strong no-trump.