Dear Mr. Rigal: Would you bid with SPADES Q-5, HEARTS A-K-10-6-3, DIAMONDS 6, CLUBS A-Q-5-4-3 after the player on your left has opened one club, passed around to you, everyone vulnerable?

— In the Bank, Duluth, Minn.

ANSWER: I would bid one heart. It could be right to pass and take what is likely to be a couple of hundreds. Then again, we could easily have a game on. I am not particularly afraid of the opponents finding a spade fit when I have so many quick tricks. Switch the red suits, and I think passing is right since the danger of letting the opponents find hearts exceeds your chance of an 11-trick game.

Dear Mr. Rigal: How would you play a double of an artificial no-trump bid such as a four-no-trump overcall?

— Cruel Intentions, Willoughby, Ohio

ANSWER: I play these doubles as showing values, generally with a desire to penalize the opposition. Subsequent doubles are for penalty. This applies against artificial two-no-trump bids in competition, too. You can also double to keep partner from bidding on.

Dear Mr. Rigal: What is your style when it comes to preempting with a major on the side?

— Traditionally Taboo, Jackson, Miss.

ANSWER: It depends on a few factors. First is suit quality: If my four-card major is weak, I will tend to ignore it. Second is which seat I am in: If my partner has passed, the goal is not to bid and make something ourselves, so I do not mind missing a better fit. By contrast, I am less inclined to preempt with a major on the side in second position, but I may do it as dealer, preempting two opponents for the price of one partner. It also matters whether my longest suit is also a major. In that case, it may not matter if we miss a fit in the other major since we still might bid and make game in either.

Dear Mr. Rigal: Holding SPADES A-K-Q-J-9-5-4, HEARTS Q, DIAMONDS 10-3, CLUBS K-Q-8, with no one vulnerable, I opened one spade, and the next player doubled. My partner bid two no-trump to show a good raise, and my right-hand opponent passed. What would you do now?

— Big Fit, North Bay, Ontario

ANSWER: We could have a slam on if partner has the right cards, namely if he has little wastage in my short suit, hearts. The way to identify this is to jump in hearts as a splinter bid. I would bid four hearts and then pass if partner signs off in four spades. The five-level could easily be unsafe. I would not worry about directing the defense here.

Dear Mr. Rigal: In general, should doubles of artificial calls that show a fit for partner, such as a Bergen raise or Drury, be used as lead-directing, takeout of the major or general strength?

— Polly Filler, New York City, New York

ANSWER: A sensible general rule is that a double of any raise that shows a high-card invitation or better is lead-directing in that suit. Where the call shows a fit but not necessarily values, double is for takeout of the agreed suit. So, for example, after Drury, when you have a takeout double of the major, you pass and double when the auction comes back to you. However, an immediate double of two clubs shows that suit.