When would you open a weak two in fourth seat? I can understand that you would pass most hands with 8 points. What would you open, if anything, in fourth seat with ♠ J-10-7-3, ♥ A-K-10-9-3-2, ♦ —, ♣ Q-10-3? My view is that it should be a better hand than one in which you would open one heart and rebid two hearts.

Sally Fourth, Elkhart, Ind.

My two-bids in fourth chair start at 9 points. A two-spade opening with ace-king-jack-sixth and an additional minor honor is probably a dead minimum. Your example looks like a two-heart opener. We might belong in spades, but I’d be willing to take my chances on that.

I know Lebensohl applies as a way to compete when the opponents overcall over a strong no-trump. Are there other applications of this convention that we should be playing?

Handy Man, Pottsville, Pa.

Yes, indeed! Once you have bought into the concept, use it after reverses or when responding to the takeout double of a weak two. It can also be employed when partner opens, then balances with a double of a two-level overcall or jump overcall. Finally, you can (with some caution) use it after partner doubles a one-level opener and the opponents raise that suit. For more information, see Extended Lebensohl and Blackout.

I am returning to bridge after an extended hiatus. I suspect my methods 30 years ago (16-18 no-trump and four-card majors) are now out of date. What approach is standard these days?

Long Gone, Memphis, Tenn.

I believe almost everywhere in the world new players are taught five-card majors, and to open 12-counts rather than waiting for 13-point hands. In turn, that fits best with 15-17 for the no-trump range. I’d recommend learning from the ACBL free teaching tool.

What happens when a tournament director gives a decision at the table that appears to you to be wrong or unfair? Is there a right of appeal, or is a director’s ruling final?

Last Call, Charlottesville, Tenn.

I believe there is always a right of appeal against a director ruling, except where that ruling is a matter of law rather than interpretation. For example, you cannot appeal a penalty for a revoke, no matter how unfair or inequitable you think it is. But you should chat to your club director (or an impartial expert) before doing anything dramatic.

How should our partnership play the range of a jump in partner’s opened minor? We play a strong no-trump, and specifically I wonder when, if at all, we should consider moving on to three no-trump facing the jump raise.

Razor’s Edge, Tupelo, Miss.

I’m going to hedge a bit. I suggest that if you have a normal balanced 18-19, you do not head for three no-trump facing a non-vulnerable pre-emptive raise. In other words, the raise typically shows values of 0-5 high-card points with five or six cards in the suit raised. But facing a vulnerable raise (which tends toward showing slightly more than a purely preemptive raise), I would at least try for three no-trump, expecting partner to have closer to 4-8 high-card points.