Every year some classic bridge books are reprinted. This year I spotted "Famous Bridge Disasters" by David Bird, "When to Bid, When to Pass" by Ron Klinger, "Kelsey on Squeeze Play" (all Weidenfeld & Nicolson), and "The Complete Book on Balancing" by Mike Lawrence (Baron Barclay).

Look only at the East hand. With both sides vulnerable, you pass as dealer (would you?). There are two more passes, then North opens one diamond. What would you do, if anything?

As a precis of those books, the first highlights expert errors, the second is for intermediates, the third is for advanced players and those trying to reach that plateau, and the fourth, which has been revised and expanded, is typical of Lawrence: comprehensive and instructive.

Some would open one club with that East hand. Yes, it has only 10 high-card points, but it has an easy rebid in spades, tells partner what to lead, and will play well if a fit can be found with partner.

Given that you passed, though, you should enter the auction now, despite those three low diamonds. Overcall two clubs. (If North had opened one heart, you should make a takeout double.)

South will probably raise to two diamonds, and the opponents will do well to stop in a making partscore.

At the table, East passed, South responded one no-trump, and North raised to three no-trump. Now, understandably, West led the heart five and declarer took the first 10 tricks.

As Klinger writes, do not adopt a conservative approach to overcalls just because partner has already passed. With adequate suit quality (important) and the points required, intervene as usual.

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