Dear Mr. Rigal: Should the 10 count as an honor for opening-lead purposes?

— Fourth and Second, White Plains, N.Y.

Answer: Some people tend to lead second highest from the 10, essentially treating it as a small card. I tend not to, unless I have a decent four-carder on the side, in which case I might need to alert partner to a possible shift. If I would normally lead second highest but I don’t think I can afford the second spot, say from 10-eight-three-two, I might just lead the fourth-highest instead. So, I think you have to be flexible.

Dear Mr. Rigal: You hold ? Q-5-4, ? K-7-6-5-2, ? K, ? K-10-8-3, everyone vulnerable. I will stick you with an opening pass. Partner bids one diamond and raises your one-heart response to two hearts. What now?

— Extra Trump, Raleigh, N.C.

Answer: Your first pass is fine. The primary suit is feeble, and the singleton king is of questionable value. I prefer to have what I bid when vulnerable. Now that partner has raised, the hand looks much better. Partner will normally have a reasonable hand with four-card support here since he could have passed one heart with three (or a complete minimum with four). With a likely nine-card fit and a useful diamond filler, I would bid four hearts.

Dear Mr. Rigal: Vulnerable against not, would you bid with ? 8-7-6-5-3, ? J-7-6, ? 9-6, ? J-10-5, after partner has opened one spade and the next hand has overcalled two clubs?

— Big Fit, Hartford, Conn.

Answer: I am all for raising partner, but this is taking it too far. With so many losers, I cannot expect our side to make anything unless partner has enough to act again. The colors are wrong for cramping the auction with a preemptive raise, so this is a pass for me. When vulnerable, partner can expect a little something for a preemptive jump raise, or even a simple raise to two. If partner acts again, only then will I compete the part-score.

Dear Mr. Rigal: My partner opened one heart, my right-hand opponent bid three spades and I passed. The next player raised to four spades, and partner bid four no-trump. What does that mean?

— Two-suited, Union City, Tenn.

Answer: Competitive four-no-trump bids show two places to play. Partner should have length in a minor as well as hearts. If his hand were three-suited, he would double instead. Partner should not have a true two-suiter, though. He would bid his second suit with equal or nearly equal length, such as 5-5 or 6-5. This four-no-trump bid should show a two-card disparity, normally 6-4 or perhaps even 7-4 or 7-5 shape. You can bid five hearts with support or bid your lowest four-card minor. Note that a 7-1 fit might play better than a 5-3 fit.

Dear Mr. Rigal: If a defender mishears what declarer has called for from dummy and plays an ill-judged card as a result, whose responsibility is it?

— Watch and Learn, Anchorage, Alaska

Answer: The buck stops with the defenders. If they are unsure which card has been requested, they should wait to see which card is actually played.

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