The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, 8 February 2026
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Dear Mr. Rigal:
Should I always ask about an opponent’s alert or do so only when I intend to bid?
Poker Face, Duluth, Minn.
I think this depends on context. If the alert is of the opening bid, I would probably ask regardless of my hand lest I give away information (for instance, that I had no interest in acting regardless of the meaning). If the alert comes later on in the auction, when my side would rarely want to act, I tend to wait until the end of the auction. I always ask if I intend to bid, since the meaning might affect my call. However, it is a misconception that you should ask only when you have interest in bidding.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
If we double a one no-trump overcall for penalty and the opponents run, what do subsequent doubles mean?
Head Hunting, Hartford, Conn.
With the balance of power, you are not normally going to let the opponents play undoubled. A pass should be forcing up to two of opener’s suit, with double being for penalty. However, there are pairs who play this as a takeout double nowadays. If you have a penalty double, the idea is that you pass, awaiting a double from partner. A problem arises when you both want to penalize!
Dear Mr. Rigal:
Which card should I lead from three to an honor in partner’s suit?
Old Wives’ Tale, Willoughby, Ohio
Many players think it is right to lead the honor, but that is frequently a bad idea. Often, you may need to keep your honor to capture any high cards in declarer’s hand. Occasionally, you might want to lead high, perhaps to keep the lead in anticipation of a switch through dummy, but in general I would lead small. Only lead the honor from a doubleton or a sequence.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
Would you bid with
♠ J, ♥ J-7-6-5-3-2, ♦ J-4, ♣ Q-6-5-3,
not vulnerable against vulnerable, over your right-hand opponent’s third-in-hand one diamond?
Action Man, Fredericksburg, Va.
The primary suit is flimsy and the hand too weak overall, but the conditions are near-perfect for aggressive pre-emption, so that might not stop me. The opponents seem to have the values for game, so I would hazard a weak two hearts. If partner can increase the barrage, this could make life very tough for the opponents. I might not be so brave with only 6-3-3-1 distribution.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
I had
♠ K-4, ♥ A-5, ♦ K-J-8-7-5-4-2, ♣ A-Q,
no one vulnerable, and opened one diamond. Starting on my left, I heard three spades – four hearts – four spades around the table and didn’t know what to do. Your recommendation?
Guessing Game, Kingston, Ontario
Your partner’s call sets up a forcing auction — for better or worse. You could double for penalty, but both sides may be making game, and I don’t think passing will help partner much. Five diamonds seems like a big gamble on this weak a suit, while five hearts might not be right if partner turns out to have a moderate six-card suit. I think four no-trump ought to show two places to play, and I plan to follow up with a bid of five diamonds over five clubs.
Barry Rigal
Barry Rigal is an English-born bridge player, author, commentator, and journalist who has won major national titles in both the UK and the United States and served as a VuGraph commentator for decades at European and World championships. He has written and edited numerous bridge books and articles and has been President of the International Bridge Press Association, contributing widely to the game’s literature and education.
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