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Dear Mr. Wolff: Say my partner opens two clubs and I respond two diamonds. If partner rebids two hearts, what do I require to introduce a spade suit now?

In other words, how short should I be in hearts as opposed to how long in spades? – John Boy, Spokane

Answer: At his second turn, responder should have available a second negative of three clubs. If so, other calls suggest five-card suits, though two spades could be a good four-carder (heart length is irrelevant here).

A bid of two no-trump does not show guards everywhere. It suggests values and a balanced hand-type.

Dear Mr. Wolff: With ♠K-4, ♥A-Q-J-2, ♦J-3-2, ♣Q-7-4-3, what would you advocate bidding after hearing one club opened on your right? Is a double acceptable? – Acting Lass, San Antonio

Answer: Doubling with only two spades is not appropriate; partner would be justified in assuming you had at least three cards in an unbid major. Overcalling one heart (yes, it is a four-card suit but a very good one) or passing and hoping to find a way back in later is the best approach.

Dear Mr. Wolff: How does the use of the “skip bid” alert fit into the idea that there should be no talking at the table?

The remark seems intended to nudge or alert partner when the situation is already evident in the stated bid. Is there no limit any longer to extraneous comments accompanying bids? – Sly Winks, Pottsville, Pa.

Answer: The idea of the skip-bid alert is not to nudge or wake up partner, but to require a mandatory 10-second pause from the next player to speak, the opponent.

Forcing your opponent to pause for 10 seconds with either a good or a bad hand after a pre-empt via the skip-bid warning prevents an untimed pause from conveying unauthorized information.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠K-J-9-3, ♥A-J-2, ♦2, ♣Q-J 7-4-2, I opened one club and heard the next hand bid one diamond.

My partner made a negative double, and the next player raised to three diamonds. Was I right to bid three spades, or would a double for takeout or even a pass have been wiser? – Firefighter, Sacramento, Calif.

Answer: I think you should not pass with your unbalanced respectable opener.

Since you were prepared to bid two spades happily, you are only being forced up one level – acceptable under the circumstances.

With the same hand but one of your small clubs a small diamond, I would pass. Double shows real extras in high cards, so it is inappropriate here.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Do you play any redoubles for rescue, and how can you tell when a redouble is really for rescue? – Running Scared, Anchorage, Alaska

Answer: The simple answer is that since any doubled contract that makes tends to score well, all redoubled low-level penalty doubles should be for rescue.

The exceptions are that a redouble of a double of one no-trump should be to play, and a redouble of a negative double should be used to show a good hand.