Dear Mr. Rigal: What is the best way to handle a suit of ace-10-small facing king-jack-eight-fifth?

— Odds-on, Dover, Del.

Answer: The key to these combinations is to consider that if this suit breaks 3-2, it does not matter, in isolation, which way you finesse for the queen. It is when they split 4-1 that the balance tips. Cashing the king and then finessing the 10 does not pick up queen-fourth onside, but starting with the ace followed by the 10 does, since you get to finesse the eight on the third round after seeing fourth hand show out. This play is correct even with the seven in place of the eight since it picks up a singleton eight or nine offside.

Dear Mr. Rigal: In a pairs or teams game, is it taboo to call the director when a player wants to take back a bid?

— Nothing Personal, Grand Junction, Colo.

Answer: Calling the director might be considered petty in a casual game or a friendly duplicate, but much depends on the infraction. There are some scenarios that simply must be adjudicated by a director. One is the case of an accidental or mistaken bid. Summoning the director should be seen as an attempt to level the playing field, not as aggression.

Dear Mr. Rigal: Where do you draw the line when opening light in third seat? Would ? Q-6, ? 9-8-4, ? Q-3-2, ? K-Q-9-7-5 qualify when not vulnerable?

— Prime Position, Columbia, S.C.

Answer: I like opening light to suggest a good lead to partner, or perhaps to try to disturb the opponents’ auction, but that only works when I have a major. With this hand, I doubt I would bother opening the bidding one club. That will do little to impede them, and while I would prefer a club lead, I am not desperate for one. (Worse still, partner might not lead a club anyway, believing I could have three.) With the black suits swapped, I would open one spade.

Dear Mr. Rigal: How should I handle a suit of ace-queen-fourth facing 10-third, needing two tricks?

— Extra Chance, Casper, Wyo.

Answer: It is best to cash the ace and then lead toward the 10. If the 10 is captured by the jack, you can play back toward the queen on the third round. This loses only to jack-doubleton over the 10. It picks up all the 3-3 and 5-1 breaks and almost all the 4-2 breaks.

Dear Mr. Rigal: I had ? 9-6, ? A-6-5, ? 10-5-2, ? J-10-8-5-3, vulnerable against not, and heard two diamonds opened to my right. My partner balanced with two hearts, back to my left-hand opponent, who bid three diamonds. I competed to three hearts, and we went one down with three diamonds also going off. Should I have passed?

— Surprise Package, Dallas, Texas

Answer: You could have nine hearts between you here, in which case it looks right to bid, and your diamond holding hardly screams in favor of defense. I cannot blame you for this one. Yes, the hand is weak, but what you do have seems to be in the right place, with the chance to establish clubs for discards.

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