ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I recently had two five-card majors and opening values opposite a two-no-trump opener twice in one week — after never having had this problem before in my life. I was not really sure how to bid it, in terms of looking for the best slam or a grand slam. — Kite Flyer, Durham, N.C. DEAR READER: A simple approach is to transfer to spades, then jump to six hearts. Or you could transfer to hearts and bid spades to keep the auction low, find a fit (or not), then follow up with Key-card Blackwood, or with five notrump as a choice of slams.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: As dealer, I picked up this hand: ♠ A-4, ♥ 8-7-6-5-3-2, ♦ A-7, ♣ K-10-6, and because of the outside honors, I reluctantly opened one heart. When my partner showed game-forcing values and a fit with a jump to two notrump, I signed off at game and actually made six. Was one heart the right opening bid, or was I just lucky that my partner had so much help? — Quality Street,

Elmira, N.Y. DEAR READER: It is generally more important to have trump length than strength. Your opening bid was impeccable, and the sixth trump is a great asset in any slam sequence. Things are very different when considering pre-empting, by the way. For the record, give me the club ace instead of the king, and I might rebid three of my major to show extras. This hand has great slam potential once you have 10 or more trumps.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Under what circumstances would you lead a card other than fourth-highest against no-trump, assuming you do not have a sequence? When do you lead second-highest? — Great Expectations,

Helena, Mont. DEAR READER: I like to lead low or top from three small, not the middle card — and I would lead the top card only when I thought it was unambiguous from the bidding. From four cards, I lead small or second-highest (as long as the top two cards are not touching). But I often lead fourth-highest, even then, because the count is frequently as important as the honor position to my partner.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Holding ♠ J-2, ♥ 9-7-6, ♦ Q8-4, ♣ A-Q-10-7-3, I’m sure you would not overcall two clubs over one heart, but how much more would you need to act? Say you pass and hear one no-trump to your left, and partner bids two diamonds. What should you do now over a twoheart bid on your right?

— Donnie Darko,

Hartford, Conn. DEAR READER: I’d overcall if the club three were the king; also, you could persuade me to act if the diamond four were the ace. A two-level overcall should be six cards or a really good five with opening values, but sometimes I fall from grace. On the auction you give, a call of three diamonds is pessimistic; a bid of three clubs (if played as lead-directing, with diamond fit) makes good sense.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Please discuss the correct way to go about bidding hands that fall into the twono-trump range, with three four-card suits and a singleton. Is it ever acceptable to open two no-trump with such hands? If not, what are the options?

— Warp Factor Five,

Albany, Ga. DEAR READER: With 20 HCP and this pattern, I’d try to avoid opening two no-trump. Paradoxically, it can be easier to reach slam or game by opening at the one-level and finding a fit cheaply. (Having said that, you may also find yourself in one of a minor and go down, with a making game elsewhere — that happens when partner has a bust with five or six cards in a suit that you have length in). With 21 or 22 and a singleton honor, a call of two no-trump might be the least lie, but I do try to avoid that if I can.