Dear Mr. Wolff: Is it permissible to double a one-no-trump opening a bit lighter in the balancing seat?

— Protective Action, Spokane, Wash.

Answer: Yes, but not by much. Bear in mind that your partner is on lead and may not find the best opening salvo, and your right-hand opponent could still have a fair hand. Just because they have passed one no-trump does not mean your side has the balance of power. I would double a weak no-trump with some good-looking 14-counts, but I would not stretch to double over a strong no-trump. Of course, these days penalty doubles of a strong no-trump (as used by yours truly) are on their way out.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What would you do with ? 9-6-5-2, ? 8-7-2, ? A-K-Q, ? J-8-5, at love all, after partner opens one club and the next hand overcalls one spade?

— No Good Call, Augusta, Ga.

Answer: One no-trump is inelegant without a spade stopper. I do not mind playing there facing a balanced minimum, but wrong-siding the contract may be expensive if partner has enough for game. Raising clubs on poor three-card support is not a good idea, nor is introducing a heart suit of three small via a negative double. My spade nine tempts me to bid one no-trump, reluctantly.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ? K-4, ? A-K-J-10-6-2, ? Q-10-7-5, ? 2, you transfer to hearts over partner’s strong no-trump and then bid three diamonds on the next round. Your partner’s next call is three spades. What now?

— Well-aged, Grand Junction, Colo.

Answer: Partner has shown spade strength (not necessarily length), so the spade king looks good now. There is a case for making a slam try with a four-club cue bid, or maybe even an invitational jump to five hearts. Since some would play that jump as looking for a club control, maybe I will start with a four-club call, planning to bid five hearts over four diamonds.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Are there any regulations governing the use of unusual bidding conventions?

— Pritt Stick, Edmonton, Alberta

Answer: The methods you describe are likely to be classified as “brown sticker” (or the even more strictly regulated “yellow sticker”), so most readers should expect never to encounter them! Such bids are allowed only in specific high-level events, and even then, the perpetrators must provide notice. Moreover, their opponents are allowed to bring written defenses with them to the table. An example of a brown-sticker method might be a two-spade opening to show a preempt in any suit. This is both unorthodox and difficult to defend against, hence the need to protect the opposition.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What sort of hand would you expect partner to have for his final call here? You open one heart and then reopen your left-hand opponent’s two-club overcall with a double. That opponent comes again with three clubs, and your partner bids three spades.

— Limited, Springfield, Mass.

Answer: My partner did not make a negative double of two clubs, so he cannot have much. I did not promise great spade length with my reopening double, so I imagine he has five or six spades and a smattering of points, say 3 to 5, or slightly less if he has extreme shape.

Contact Bobby Wolff at bobbywolffindspring.com