In a recent lead problem where you had a six-count, you advised attacking from queen-third in an unbid major against a no-trump contract. Would it be better to lead low or high? I worry about blocking the suit and misleading my partner that I have a four-card suit. As an aside, what about leading from a doubleton queen – would you suggest low or high?

Bow at a Venture, Manhattan, N.Y.

I’d always lead low from three to an honor; it might conceivably block the suit, but here your partner has plenty of high-cards, so this will be only a minor problem. By contrast, leading an unsupported honor might cost a trick in so many different ways — especially in an unbid suit. From a doubleton honor I lead the honor in partner’s bid suit, and try not to lead it at all if it is not.

I do not understand the implied contradiction between your statement in a recent answer that, if missing four cards, a 3-1 break is more likely than a 2-2 break, since you also say: play for the drop when missing four cards to the queen. How can you reconcile the two ideas?

Number Cruncher, Ketchikan, Alaska

In general terms a 3-1 break is more likely than a 2-2 break. But when deciding whether to finesse on the second round with a nine-card holding, you normally reach a position where one defender has followed twice, so you must halve that original 3-1 percentage. I should emphasize how close the original percentages are, though. Any known shortness or length in your opponents’ hands may tip you to the finesse.

Holding ♠ K-9, ♥ Q-4-3, ♦ A-J-4-2, ♣ Q-7-4-3 I heard my partner open one club and I responded one diamond. What would you do when your partner raises to three diamonds? Should you settle for three no-trump, show a major in the hope of reaching three no-trump when it is right, or look for slam?

Flat Earther, San Francisco, Calif.

Your soft values suggest bidding three no-trump, as if partner is short in one major, so that your values there are wasted, you may not make any game. If I did explore, I guess I would bid three spades. I really think it is just a guess, and the three no-trump call is the best of a bad job.

In third seat opening light in a major suit seems protected by the fact that your partner has Drury available. But should a third-seat opening in a minor be very close to opening bid strength? And where there is a choice, would opening a reasonable four-card major be a better choice?

Pushing the Boat Out, Doylestown, Pa.

With hands in the 10-12 range, open a good suit if you have one, planning to pass as soon as is sensible. With a full if minimum opener in the range 12-14, I tend to make my normal opening bid, planning to keep the auction open. A lead directer with a four-card major is relatively unusual though not absurd, of course. Pass balanced 10-counts unless you know what you want partner to lead.

With strong balanced hands is it logical to extend the three-point range approach, so that after opening two clubs a rebid of two no-trump shows 22-24 and a rebid of three no-trump shows 25-27? Also, what should a three no-trump opener show? A balanced powerhouse, or gambling with a long minor?

Tiers, Before Bedtime, Saint John’s, Newfoundland

Use three-point ranges for a one no-trump opening and rebid. You can invite facing those sequences, but you have to put up or shut up facing a two no-trump opening or rebid. Perhaps use an upper limit of 17 with no five-card suit for a one no-trump opener, and a good 11 to a bad 14 for the one no-trump rebid if you want to be daring. Use two point ranges for the higher actions. If you play the Kokish two heart rebid (see https://www.larryco.com/bridge-learning-center/detail/573) you can have your cake and eat it too.