ACES ON BRIDGE

Dear Mr. Wolff: I picked up ♠ J-8-6-4, ♥ A-K-J, ♦ A-K-2, ♣ A-7-5 at unfavorable vulnerability. My partner passed, and my righthand opponent opened a weak two spades. I doubled and then raised partner’s Lebensohl two-no-trump response to game. The two-spade bidder had only ace-king-10-fifth in spades, and his partner held queennine-low, so a small spade lead allowed them to take the first five tricks. Were we just unlucky, or could I have done better?

— Wild Man, Duluth, Minn.

Dear Reader: You were unlucky in that you came up against someone who opens weak twos in second chair on a five-card suit. However, I would just overcall three no-trump. You might as well get the strong hand playing the deal and protect your spade holding. I admit that you might find yourself playing three no-trump rather than a suit game if partner is unbalanced, but you cannot win them all.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Some of the international online events are still going strong. Do you think they have a permanent place in the bridge calendar now?

— Here To Stay, Memphis, Tenn.

Dear Reader: Yes, these events boast a strong field, are easy to run, and are convenient to enter and play in. Nothing can replace a proper face-to-face international tournament, but these are good fillers.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Just when you pick up a promising hand like ♠ A-Q-J-9-5, ♥ Q-9-6-5-3-2, ♦ —-, ♣ 5-2, partner ruins it by opening three diamonds. Your lefthand opponent doubles for takeout, and your righthand opponent passes. Do you run?

— Shape Unsuitable, Portland, Ore.

Dear Reader: My partner could have a wide range of hands or suit qualities, and the opponents have passed for penalty, so I would definitely run. My hand has enormous potential if partner has even a doubleton — much less three cards in either major. I would redouble for rescue, though you could bid three hearts and, if doubled confidently, run to three spades.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I play Leaping Michaels in all my partnerships, but I am unsure how strong these bids are. What do you think?

— Two-suited, Honolulu, Hawaii

Dear Reader: A jump to four of an unbid minor over an opponent’s weak two (or three clubs), or even one of a major raised to two, shows at least 5-5 shape in that minor and an unbid major. A concentrated two-suiter such as ace-queen-jack-fifth in both suits with a little on the side would suffice. These bids should show good hands with good suits.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What sort of hand would you expect for a five-level opening?

— Rare Bird, Houston, Texas

Dear Reader: Five of a minor openings look just like a three-level preempt, but with more cards in the long suit and less suitability for three no-trump, thus not a solid suit. They do not show good hands. Five-of-amajor openings are very rare: They are best played as showing strong hands that are solid outside the trump suit. They ask partner to raise one level for each top honor they hold.