Dear Mr. Wolff: You hold ? Q-9-5-3, ? A-Q-10-8-5-4, ? K-4, ? 3, vulnerable against not, and you see partner bid one spade over your left-hand opponent’s one diamond. The next player makes a negative double. What would be your choice now?

— Practical Bid, Newport News, Va.

Answer: I would jump to four spades, which is what I believe I can make facing a vulnerable overcall. The hearts will provide a source of tricks. The diamond king need not be a wasted value, especially when my left-hand opponent does not require great length in the suit. I will double five of a minor if they bid it.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What would you normally open with 3-3 in the minors? Does it depend on suit quality, and does your choice vary with position?

— Flexibility, Pueblo, Colo.

Answer: I typically open one club with 3-3 and one diamond with 4-4, but if one suit is much stronger than the other, say ace-jack-10 in diamonds and three small clubs, I might consider opening one diamond -- especially in third seat, where you could even open a strong four-card suit ahead of a weak five-carder. You might occasionally improvise by bidding a three-card club suit instead of a weak diamond four-carder in a 3=3=4=3 hand.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What does two no-trump mean from fourth hand after the auction starts: one spade - double - two spades?

— No Double, Selma, Ala.

Answer: Double would be responsive here, for takeout, usually denying hearts unless you have a balanced hand with invitational values (since you might bid them if you had them). Thus, there is not much need for two no-trump to show the minors as it typically would if partner had passed. Use two no-trump as natural and invitational here, but in response to a double from you, partner’s two no-trump would ask you to pick your lowest playable suit.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Should I have acted over a weak (12-14) no-trump with ? 7-6, ? A-9-5-4-2, ? A-Q-6-2, ? A-3, at unfavorable vulnerability facing a passed hand?

— Risk-Reward, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Answer: Yes, I would bid two hearts since we may still have a game on, or it could be right to compete the part-score. It is even clearer to do this if two hearts shows hearts and a minor, as we could then back into three diamonds. This might go wrong if partner is misfitting, but you cannot live in fear. The potential gains outweigh the costs here. Hands like this emphasize that having a two-suited defense against no-trump, regardless of range, has considerable merit.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Is it logical to have a preference as to which seat you play in?

— Touch Wood, Huntington, W.Va.

Answer: Some players prefer not to be in charge of the boards or the bridgemate (thus making them South, not North), and some do not want to operate the flap when playing with screens (thus they would prefer to sit East, not West). Others sit in the same seat always so they do not have to torture themselves with thoughts like “If I had sat in partner’s chair, I would have done X and we would have won the match.” A lot of players do not care one bit; they just want to sit down and play. Each to their own.

Contact Bobby Wolff at bobbywolffindspring.com