In a club duplicate, with both sides non-vulnerable, you hold ♠ A-K-4, ♥ K-5, ♦ J-8-2, ♣ A-K-10-7-4. You open one club in second seat, and your left-hand opponent bids three diamonds, passed back to you. What do you bid?

Put to It, Duluth, Minn.

While passing might work, I’m inclined to bid — since surely our side has more than half the deck! Will I gamble with a bid of three no-trump, or double and hope something good happens? I’ll try the latter, assuming that my left-hand opponent is relatively unlikely to have solid diamonds for his pre-emptive call, but I wouldn’t want to wager much cash on my decision.

After a pre-empt of three diamonds to your left and a double from partner, what do you bid with ♠ 10-4, ♥ K-J-9-7, ♦ Q-9, ♣ Q-J-9-8-2 when your right-hand opponent passes? What action do you take if your right-hand opponent raises to four diamonds? Would doubling be appropriate?

Howard the Stuck, Fayetteville, N.C,

I’d bid four hearts if my RHO passes, but would double four diamonds, initially takeout for the majors. A four heart call would also be possible of course, but if you are facing a doubleton diamond or longer, maybe you will get richer defending — or defending will be your only way to go plus. You can convert a four spade response to five clubs, perhaps suggesting this pattern.

When you have a balanced hand in the 15-17 range with a five-card major suit, when should you open the suit and when should you open one no-trump? Does any factor such as position or quality of the suit affect the decision?

On the Horns, Anchorage, Alaska

It is simplest to upgrade any 17-count with a five-card major, unless the suit has no top honor or some significant devaluing factor such as a doubleton double-honor. With 16, always open one no-trump unless your honor structure is really skewed. With a strong five-card major in an average 15-count, you should consider opening the suit.

My partner wants me to hold opening values to overcall when we are vulnerable. I agree with that when overcalling at the two-level, but not at the one-level, as it seems to me that too many opportunities would be lost. Should there also be a minimum suit quality requirement for a one-level action?

Barney Bridge, Greenwich, Conn.

Overcalls should focus primarily on offensive strength; hence at the two-level, we require both tricks and a long suit. Conversely, at the one-level, there is virtually no 9-count with a good five-carder that I wouldn’t overcall with facing a passed hand. Additionally, the more space a one-level overcall consumes, the more latitude you have to intervene.

My wife and I used to play a lot of bridge before I had to earn a living and raise a family. Now that we are empty nesters, can you recommend a book or two to get us back into the swing of modern bidding?

Back to It, Midland, Mich.

Eric Rodwell and Audrey Grant’s book on two-over-one might be set at the right level. “25 Bridge Conventions” by Seagram and Smith could also be helpful. For a more entertaining read, you cannot beat Eddie Kantar, and Mike Lawrence is always educational and informative.