A recent problem at pairs had us scratching our heads. I opened one club holding ♠ Q-J-8-2, ♥ 3, ♦ A-Q-10, ♣ K-Q-9-4-2. My LHO overcalled one heart, my partner bid one no-trump, my RHO tried two hearts and I had to decide what to do. I know my partner does not have spades, so should I pass, double or bid either two no-trump or three clubs?

Last Strain, Troy, N.Y.

Passing is clearly wrong, when the opponents have a big fit. Meanwhile, double should be balanced extras, so the choice is which suit to bid. I think two spades is best, showing clubs and spades and letting partner go forward as he sees fit. A call of two no-trump might be played as artificial by some, (http://www.advinbridge.com/this-week-in-bridge/149) but if not it would be a source of tricks in clubs and not enough for game – maybe five or six clubs tricks in a minimum balanced hand.

My partner and I did not agree on a double; could you provide a Solomonic ruling please. My LHO opened one club and my partner doubled. I responded one spade holding jack-10 fifth of spades and the doubleton diamond king. Now my LHO came again with two diamonds, and my partner doubled. What does that mean?

Seconds Out, Charleston, S.C.

I cannot say for sure that there IS a standard interpretation. I’d expect this to be extras with three spades, so I might bid two spades now. For such a simple auction there should, I agree, be a standard interpretation, but I think it should just be a good hand with no clear call.

My question is about game tries in an uncontested auction after a major suit is raised to two. Where do you stand on long- and short-suit game tries, and what about bids in no-trump or a re-raise of the trump suit?

Trying Hard, Pittsburgh, Pa.

A simple approach is to use new suits as help tries (three or four cards to one top honor is typical), no-trump calls as natural, and a re-raise as pre-emptive. Another approach is to use step one as promising shortage somewhere — the next three calls as long-suit tries. This approach is called Rosenkranz and is discussed at http://www.districtsixbridge.org/Articles/Article%202010-06.aspx

After opening two no-trump with a flat 20-21, passed out, declarer may often end up playing a hopeless contract facing a flat near-bust dummy. Is opening such hands at one of a minor worth considering as an alternative opening?

Dark Side, Lorain, Ohio

You can’t go through life with your umbrella open in case it is just about to rain. Equally, while the two no-trump opener isn’t the best part of a standard system, you must use it to describe the balanced 20-21 HCP hands. Opening one of a minor won’t let you describe that hand precisely. So don’t worry, be happy.

In answer to an online enquiry, you responded, in part: “… The reason is that second hand is supposed to pass with a flat minimum opening, which cannot double…” I recall in a previous column answer you indicated that when on the fence it is generally best to err on the side of getting into the auction.” With a balanced hand when do you bid and when do you pass?

Joining Battle, Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Let’s take a 4333 pattern after a minor-suit opening bid to your right. With 14 or more you either double or overcall one no-trump. With 11 you’d almost always pass. With 12 or 13 you would tend to double unless partner is a passed hand AND you have significant defense to the suit opened. Ace-third is a perfectly acceptable holding, K-Q-x a far less attractive holding.