Dear Mr. Rigal: If my left-hand opponent opens three clubs, my partner overcalls three diamonds and the next player passes, how many cards does my bid of three hearts promise?

Answer: In theory, this should show a five-card suit, happy to be raised with three-card support, but sometimes you have no better call with only a particularly good four-card suit and no stopper in the opponents’ suit.

Dear Mr. Rigal: I am puzzled about this situation. Dealer held Q-8-5-3, K-9-6-2, 8-5, J-3-2 and passed. Then his left opponent passed, his partner opened one no-trump (13-15) and his right opponent passed. Even though the point count is 6, would it be better to use Stayman than to pass, since there is a high probability that partner has at least one four-card major? As it turned out, one no-trump went down with two hearts making. The actual answer doesn’t matter as much as your reasoning behind it.

Answer: At matchpoint pairs, I might gamble Stayman (planning to bid two hearts over two diamonds, to show a weak hand with both majors). This is with the idea that a 4-4 fit will play better (and score better) than one no-trump and a 4-3 fit might. Move an honor from the majors to a minor, and I would surely pass. At rubber, I always pass. One no-trump should make slightly more often than two of a major in a 4-3 fit.

Dear Mr. Rigal: What would you bid with 8-2, -, A-Q-9, Q-J-9-8-6-5-4-2, after your right-hand opponent has opened one diamond, no one vulnerable?

Answer: At equal vulnerability, I would bid only four clubs. It could work to bid five, but the suit is too poor and my defensive prospects against four of a major are far from bleak my partner may have a good trump holding against hearts, or I may be able to score heart ruffs against spades. Offering the opponents a penalty against five clubs, the most likely outcome, would make their lives too easy. I might consider five clubs if the opponents were vulnerable and I held the club 10.

Dear Mr. Rigal: What would you say is the minimum point count for a Drury two-club response?

Answer: Drury applies as a passed hand in response to an opening of a major suit. In America, the bid shows the equivalent of a three-card limit raise, about 10-11 points, but that is not so in Europe, where the range is more like a good 8-11. I always knew our standards were higher.

Dear Mr. Rigal: An opponent of mine recently made a faulty claim in defense, saying “it does not matter” and motioning that I was going one down. However, I could have made the hand on perfect play. What should happen in this situation?

Answer: Summon the director immediately. Do not, under any circumstances, decide among yourselves what should happen or play on to find out. That may damage your rights when asking for a ruling later on. In such positions, it is generally appropriate for the director to settle any doubt in favor of the nonoffending side but not to go overboard in that respect.

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