In second seat I held ♠ 7, ♥ K-9-5-3-2, ♦ A-Q-9-2, ♣ K-10-4 and opened one heart. My partner raised to two hearts over my LHO's one-spade overcall, and this was passed back to my LHO, who bid two spades. When my partner doubled, what did it mean, and what should I bid now?

Caped Crusader, Tupelo, Miss.

Your partner's double suggests he wants to defend — perhaps with two potential trump tricks, together with a maximum for his two-heart raise. Conversely, your short spades plus minimum values make the prospect of defending two spades doubled too risky. Run to three diamonds (or three hearts) and be prepared to apologize in the post-mortem if you are proved to be too cowardly.

When my RHO opened one diamond, I doubled, holding ♠ K-9-3, ♥ A-Q-6-3, ♦ 5, ♣ A-Q-10-7-2. My LHO raised to two diamonds, and my partner doubled. I thought this was takeout so bid two hearts, but my partner now bid two spades. What did this show — and what should I do now?

Jump Starter, Durham, N.C.

This auction sounds like spades and clubs (probably with only four spades but he might easily have five clubs). It looks clear to bid three clubs now, correcting to the higher partscore but one that should be much easier to play. Your partner could have up to invitational values, but this is not guaranteed.

What are the general rules about rebidding one no-trump as opener with a hand with a singleton in partner's suit? Specifically if you open one diamond and hear one spade, would you rebid two clubs as opposed to two diamonds on a hand with one spade and five diamonds, together with four hearts and three clubs? Or do you prefer to rebid one no-trump?

Heading for Home, Sunbury, Pa.

I'm a big fan of getting my second suit in cheaply if I can, but when I hold a reversing pattern and not enough values for that call, I will settle for a rebid of one no-trump and hope to survive by making the least lie. At least I limit my hand this way.

Say you held ♥ A-Q-3, ♦ J-7-6-5, ♣ K-J-10-8-4 ♠ 5 and elected to pass in first seat. When your partner opens one club, the next hand bids three hearts. Should you commit to three no-trump and hope partner has a full opener, or should you pass and settle for your sure plus?

Horn Bill, Duluth, Minn.

I would pass now and hope my partner can reopen with a double, when I will rub my hands and pass, expecting a big penalty.

Would you be happy to play some form of Blackwood where the conventional call is some bid other than four no-trump? When a minor suit is agreed, I understand experts use either the minor suit or one over the minor suit as ace-asking to save space.

Modern Scientist, Dodge City, Kan.

Heaven Forbid! I would rather eliminate Blackwood altogether than have people get confused by using other calls as conventional. That said, if you must play a call as artificial when a minor is agreed, do not use a call in the minor suit itself, but subvert the suit above to that end. If you are really interested, try visiting Bridge Guys for a summary of the methods.