Up to what level of opening bid should we play penalty doubles of our opponents’ no-trump opening — and what ranges should we treat as a strong no-trump? What methods would you recommend we play if either side removes the double?

Baker’s Dozen, Spartanburg, S.C.

Any no-trump that includes a 13-count should be treated as weak (and you might also double third-seat no-trump openers by those playing strong clubs). If you double a weak no-trump, you can pretend your partner opened one no-trump. Play Stayman and transfers if you bid. Deal with the opponents’ runouts as if they had overcalled your partner’s no-trump opener.

In second seat, I picked up ♠ 5-2, ♥ A-K-7-6-4-3, ♦ A-3, ♣ J-8-3 and opened one heart. When my partner jumped to four clubs, showing a singleton club and game values, did I have enough to cue-bid four diamonds, or should I have signed off in four hearts?

Raising the Roof, Columbus, Ohio

With real extras, you would normally cue-bid four diamonds, expecting your partner to sign off without a spade control. If you bid four hearts, the auction will be over, of course. In this auction, the four-diamond call might lead partner to do too much if he has the spade ace but a minimum; however, I think the combination of your sixth trump and third-round controls in both diamonds and spades require you to do it.

I am a very rusty life master (I haven’t played more than 10 times in the last 20 years) who just retired in August. A recent deal of yours saw an opener act with ♠ K-J-4, ♥ K-J-3-2, ♦ Q-3-2, ♣ Q-9-3, but I count only 12 high-card points and seven losers, with no quick tricks and no five-card suit. Is this really an advisable opening bid?

Back in the Saddle, Albuquerque, N. M.

I absolutely agree this isn’t a great opening bid! Non-vulnerable at matchpoints, there may be more to be gained by bidding than passing, but should you open? I’m not sure. If playing a 15-17 no-trump, where a no-trump rebid shows 12-14, you aren’t far off base. But you could sell me on passing if your other option is to open a suit you don’t want partner to lead or raise!

What would be the best use for transferring into a major, then bidding a minor? Do the same rules apply after a two no-trump as after a one no-trump opener?

Down Under, Sydney, Australia

These unopposed transfer auctions show a second suit, are game forcing and imply doubt about strain or level. That means you either have slam interest (you will always have slam interest in the two no-trump sequences) or are worried no-trump might not be right. So without any slam interest — say 9-13 high-card points — and with a 5-4 pattern, you might ignore the minor over a one no-trump opener, unless you have a small side-suit singleton.

I was the opener and passed with ♠ Q-7-4, ♥ Q-7-5-2, ♦ K-8-3, ♣ Q-J-6. Around the table, I heard my lef-thand opponent open one club and my partner bid one heart, with a negative double showing four spades to my right. What is the right plan of campaign my hand now?

Plain Sailing, Waterbury, Conn.

A redouble by you would suggest values, the unbid suit and at least tolerance for partner, not real support as here. Your soft values really do not suggest you have enough for a cue-bid raise. Despite your fourth trump, you might simply raise to two hearts and compete again to three hearts if the subsequent auction suggests that is appropriate.