Emily Procter, who plays Calleigh Duquesne on TV, said, "One hundred and eighty episodes of 'CSI: Miami' and never the same lipstick twice."

One hundred and eighty bridge deals and never the same hand twice. But often you will plan to bid twice, and when you do, you should think of not only the first round but also the second.

Look at the South hand in today's diagram. West opens one diamond, North makes a takeout double, and East raises to two diamonds. What should South do?

Yes, East should have been more ambitious, jumping to three diamonds, which would have been pre-emptive. (As a sidelight for experienced partnerships, there is a strong case for playing that three of a minor over a takeout double is a limit raise and a two-no-trump response is pre-emptive. If the final contract is to be three no-trump, which is possible when responder has game-invitational values, it is probably better played by the opener.)

Is South going to make one bid now and pass thereafter, or would he be willing to bid a second time if West or East competes to three diamonds?

Here he should be happy to bid twice. So, to make it easy to show both of his suits, South should advance with two spades. Then, over three diamonds by an opponent, he can economically rebid three hearts. (If South were weaker, he would have bid two hearts at his first turn.)

The defenders can defeat three hearts if they arrange for East to get a spade ruff. But they are making three diamonds, so that would be no great loss for North-South. And East-West might not find the killing defense.

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