After an opening suit bid is doubled and redoubled, does that set up forcing passes on opener and his partner? The sort of sequence I am thinking of starts: one heart -double – redouble. When the overcaller or his partner runs to two clubs, would a direct pass be forcing on both players?

Sold Out, Las Vegas, Nev.

The redouble forces opener or his partner to bid again at low levels (below two of the opened suit). So if the auction goes as you suggest, you cannot let the opponents play two clubs undoubled – you have to act again. Exceptions might be made for a third-in-hand opening bid, though.

I had always thought that pre-emptive bids were for defensive purposes and used when you are the opening bidder or you are bidding after the opponents have opened the bidding. At today's bridge club I was dealer and opened one club and my partner jumped to three diamonds with ♠ J-8, ♥ 5-3, ♦ K-Q-9-8-7-5-3, ♣ 10-4. Was his bid correct?

Fifth Beatle, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

I think that while some play strong jumps and some play pre-emptive jumps facing an opening, most play weak jumps in competition. Equally, the default meaning of the double jump facing a minor is weak, but a splinter (strong with a fit and shortage in the bid suit) facing a major. So yes, this would be a pre-emptive jump.

What is the correct procedure for using the STOP and ALERT cards? I'm a newbie to Duplicate Bridge and suspect either I or my opponents aren't being consistent in their use.

Tyro, Duluth, Minn.

With the STOP card I put the card on the table before my bid and announce, "Skip bid, please wait." Then I make my call and pick up the card after approximately 10 seconds. With the ALERT card I say "Alert" and pick up that card and put it close to my partner's call, to make sure that whether my opponents are short-sighted or hard of hearing, they do have a chance to register it.

In second seat, after a pass on your right, nonvulnerable versus vulnerable opponents, you pick up ♠ Q 6-3, ♥ K-Q-J-10-4-2, ♦ Q-J-3, ♣ 6. I thought that reasonable choices would be two hearts or pass, but my partner chose one heart. I was expecting a different type of hand — a couple of quick tricks, for example. The results were NOT pretty.

Wright Brothers, Greenville, S.C.

In second seat this is nothing approaching a one-level opening (even at favorable vulnerability). Since you can't beat seven clubs (you have no sure winners), a weak two is just fine. For the record, change the hand to ♦ K-10-9 and I'm on the fence, but would bid two hearts vulnerable. I would never, ever, pass though.

Can you comment on how to play a suit combination such as three to the ace-king facing four to the queen-nine? Specifically if you cash the ace and king from your hand and the 10 appears on your right, should you finesse on the third round, in the absence of further clues?

Deep Thoughts, Elmira, N.Y.

The numbers to compare are whether your RHO is more likely to have J-10-x or either of J-x or 10-x. The odds strongly favor the finesse here. If you are unconvinced, I suggest you look here.