What is the best use of Stayman, followed by three of a minor? Should this be natural and weak, invitational, or some kind of forcing call?

Tim the Trumpeter, Arlington, Texas

Common expert opinion is that Stayman, followed by three of either minor, is game-forcing with at least five cards in that minor and an unbid major of four cards (typically the unbid major if partner shows one at his second turn). To sign off in a minor, transfer to that suit and pass the response. On invitational hands with a minor and a four-card major, use Stayman, then raise the response or bid two no-trump as appropriate. The same basic structure applies over a two-no-trump opener.

Recently, my partner passed in first seat, and I opened one spade. After a double from the next hand, she jumped to three clubs. I thought this would be a maximum pass with clubs, but she was sure she had shown a pre-emptive bid. I had always assumed that a pre-emptive bid must be made at your first turn to speak. Who is right?

Jumping Bean, Spokane, Wash.

I would certainly not expect my partner to have a good hand with just clubs. With such a hand, she should bid two clubs or redouble rather than jump. But I also don’t play this call as pre-emptive. (If you can’t open three clubs, what about your hand lets you pre-empt later, other than an initial sorting error?) I suggest you play all passed-hand jumps facing an opener or overcall as fit jumps. See www.bridgeguys.com/Conventions/flower_bids.html.

We recently had a problem when I picked up a balanced 13-count and opened one heart, my five-card major. My partner had a balanced 17-count with only three hearts and four spades. He bid one spade. After I responded one no-trump, how was my partner supposed to explore for slam, given that there was no “unbid” minor?

Scott Free, Pleasanton, Calif.

I’d recommend you use two clubs in this auction as the equivalent of New Minor. For the uninitiated, the call simply sets up a game forcing auction and says nothing about clubs. Your partner can bid hearts at his next turn, and you will either cooperate toward slam with a suitable hand or sign off if minimum. Two diamonds can be natural and non-forcing here.

When defending against a suit contract, what are your thoughts on underleading aces or leading them out in bid and supported suits?

Bamboozler, Toledo, Ohio

Even if my partner raises a suit I have opened or overcalled in, I hate to lead out an unsupported ace unless everything else is worse. I’m more likely to do it in a suit my partner introduced first. If I’m defending a contract that was doubled by my partner, it is even less attractive to lead an ace, since the auction has suggested we are not stacked in our long suit. Underleading would be limited to cases where my left-hand opponent has shown (or implied) stoppers in that suit.

Say you are in fourth seat, and an opening bid to your left is passed around to you. How much do you need before you can balance over a minor suit? If the answer is less than is needed for direct action, how does your partner know when to pull in a notch?

Protective Coloring, Pierre, S.D.

When in balancing seat, mentally add a king to your high cards and bid appropriately, while responder should take a king off. So if I had 14 points and did balance with a suit call, I would consider moving over a simple raise from my partner (for which the range is approximately 8-10 points, not 5-7 points). If I double, I might raise a simple response from my partner with support and 15-17 points.