Would you ever open ♠ Q-10-8, ♥ A-4. ♦ K-5-4, ♣ A-J-9-5-2 with a strong no-trump, either for tactical reasons or because you believe the hand is worth that action?

Far From the Adding Crowd, Newark, N.J.

At matchpoints when nonvulnerable I can see the argument for getting the no-trump in first. A chunky five-card suit must be worth something, and since you might well want to play the hand your way up, it is not absurd to make the call. This is especially true in third seat when you should also aim to make the opponents' search for a major-suit fit rather more challenging.

I recently read an Aces column where you explained Bergen raises to the reader, implying that you weren’t particularly in favor of using them. I’ve used them ever since I read “To Bid or Not to Bid.” What don’t you like about them?

The Raiser's Edge, Winston-Salem, N.C.

They fall into the category of bids where judgment takes second place to system. They also allow lead-directing doubles rather too easily. One doesn’t always use Stayman when holding a four-card major; equally, one sometimes raises a major to two with four trumps and a defensive hand. That said, giving up jump responses in a minor is not a big loss, I agree. There are some sensible alternative “natural” uses, though weak jump responses may not be among them.

Imagine at matchpoints that you held ♠ A-10-3-2, ♥ A-Q-9-4, ♦ 9-7-5-4-2 ♣ — in third chair. Would you open the hand — and if so, what call would you prefer?

Open Sesame Paste, Orlando, Fla.

Since I am under oath, I think I'd pass if vulnerable and open nonvulnerable; I would marginally prefer a one-heart bid to the other choices. I really do not want to bid diamonds to see partner leading his doubleton ace, king or queen! Bidding long suits in third position is somewhat overrated; bidding good suits with one-bid hands has a lot to recommend it.

A friend gave me a somewhat garbled description of Snapdragon doubles. In what position do they apply, and how do they work exactly? More importantly, are they a good idea?

Boldly Advancing, Seneca, S.C.

When LHO opens, partner overcalls, and RHO makes a low-level bid, doubles of that bid should be for takeout. Doubling a bid-and-raised suit shows the unbid suits and a fair hand. If RHO introduced a new suit, double suggests values, with the unbid suit AND support for partner. Since you rarely have a penalty double in this position, the idea behind the convention is a sound one.

I always thought that if I had two equal or close to equal suits I should open with the higher of touching suits and the lower of nontouching suits. In one of your recent columns, you described a reverse as whenever the player bids any lower suit before a higher suit, in this case clubs and then hearts. Can you describe how these two ideas overlap?

Circle of Confusion, New York City, N.Y.

Anytime in an noncompetitive auction that you bid the low suit at the one-level, then a higher suit at the two-level, so that responder has to give preference to the first one at the three-level, it's a reverse. So, for example, opening one club, then bidding two hearts over one spade, guarantees reversing extras. You may have to repeat clubs or bid one no-trump without those extras.