ACES ON BRIDGE

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Say you open one club and the next hand overcalls one heart. When partner doubles to show four spades, what does a one-spade rebid from you show, compared to a jump to two spades? — Negative Double, Union City, Tenn.

DEAR READER: In standard methods, rebidding one spade generally shows a bare minimum with fourcard support, but you could also have three spades in either a semi-balanced hand or a balanced hand with no heart stopper. A jump to two spades should show some extra values in shape or at least a solid 14-count.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: What would you do with ♠ A-Q-10-2, ♥ 4, ♦ J-9-7-5-4-3, ♣ 8-2 after your partner bids one heart over your left-hand opponent’s one-club opening and the next player passes, at game all?

— Wide Range, Newport News, Va. ANSWER: One spade really should show a fifth spade and probably a little more in terms of values. Two diamonds is about right on suit length but is a slight overbid. Partner’s maximum is about 17, so it is unlikely that you have a game. Still, I might risk bidding. If you pass, you might play the wrong partscore. Admittedly, though, your partner could have a sixth heart, or your left-hand opponent might rescue you by balancing.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I have seen a lot of pairs playing transfers after their oneheart or one-spade opening is doubled. Is this a treatment you would recommend?

— In Competition, Atlanta, Ga.

DEAR READER: This method requires all the bids from one no-trump up to the suit beneath partner’s major at the two-level to be transfers, one no-trump showing clubs. The bid below partner’s major shows a good raise to two, while a direct raise is weaker, limited to about 8 points. You can still redouble for business, so the only thing this method loses is a natural one-no-trump response, which is rarely needed after an opponent’s double.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: Which suit should I open with the various 4-4-4-1 shapes?

— Three-suited, White Plains, N.Y.

DEAR READER: With a singleton in a minor, open the other minor. With a singleton heart, I tend to bid my better minor. With 1=4=4=4 pattern, you have to distort your hand after partner’s likely one-spade response. With 16 or more points, you could open one club and reverse into two hearts. Holding a minimum opener, though, you either open one club and rebid one no-trump, or open one diamond and rebid two clubs. Base your decision on suit quality, I suggest.

DEAR MR. WOLFF: I have heard that there are some bids that one cannot psych. Is that right?

— Chief Operator, Waterbury, Conn.

DEAR READER: Yes, when you make a strong, artificial bid, such as a two-club opening or a strong club, you must have what you say you have. The reason is that a strong opening is so effective a deterrent to opposition bidding that it would be unfair (and in some countries illegal) to make that call with weak hands. I would discourage psyching in any case.