Dear Mr. Rigal: With ? 10-7-5-4-2, ? Q-J-2, ? A-10-8-4, ? J, you hear your partner open one club and then rebid two diamonds over your one-spade response. What would you do?

Answer: I could start with two spades, forcing for one round, intending to bid a non-forcing three diamonds over the minimum rebid of two no-trump or three clubs. However, my hand has real diamond support, with even the club jack potentially pulling its weight, and my spades are poor. Since I can start with an artificial call of two no-trump with all bad hands here, I can bid three diamonds and have it be forcing. Partner will raise spades next if we belong there.

Dear Mr. Rigal: What would you do, holding ? K-9-6-4, ? 2, ? K-10-9-5-3, ? 9-8-3, at unfavorable vulnerability, when your partner opens one diamond and the next hand overcalls two clubs?

Answer: I would raise preemptively to three diamonds, which should show something at this vulnerability, so partner can bid on with extras. With invitational strength, I would cue-bid three clubs. The alternative is to double for takeout in search of a spade fit, but that lets the next hand bid two hearts or raise clubs. I would rather take away bidding space as I know the opponents have a heart fit. With a little more (say, the club king instead of the three), I would double and then support diamonds.

Dear Mr. Rigal: Say my partner opens one spade, I respond one no-trump and he bids two diamonds. If I bid two hearts over that, what sort of hand should partner have for two spades?

Answer: I think this just shows a six-card spade suit in a hand that cannot tolerate hearts as trumps. Any 6=0=4=3 would bid this way, as would a 6=1=4=2 with good spades. It does not guarantee extra values.

Dear Mr. Rigal: I recently held ? J-7-6-4-3, ? Q-J-9-5-4, ? 4, ? J-10, no one vulnerable, and passed over my right-hand opponent’s one diamond. The next hand raised to three diamonds, which was passed back around to me. I balanced with a double. The trouble was that partner had hesitated over three diamonds. Was I allowed to act?

Answer: If you think it is clear to take a particular action, you should ignore partner’s tempo and do what you think is right. Let the opponents call the director if they choose. If the call is marginal, I would take the action contraindicated by any unauthorized information you believe you may have. It is not obvious to act here, in my opinion, so I would pass with your hand. However, you were not technically barred from acting just because your partner broke tempo.

Dear Mr. Rigal: What is the default card to lead from a three-card suit headed by an honor in partner’s suit?

Answer: A lot of players like to lead the honor from this holding, but it is rarely a good idea. Lead the smallest to show your length. This might help capture an honor in declarer’s hand on the next round. At no-trump, leading the honor may sacrifice a trick for very little reason.

Contact Barry Rigal, email him at barryrigal@hotmail.com.