How good is your hand really? by Frank Stewart

A: 3♥: You don't have many points. Still, bid three hearts. The key feature is your four good trumps. In competitive partscore situations when the high-card strength in evenly divided, tend to compete to the three level when you have nine trumps.

Your result so far:

A: 3♥: You have 10 points with four useful honors; the K-Q of clubs opposite partner's shortness would be wasted, but the ace is working. Jump to three hearts to invite game. Partner will bid four hearts with K J 3 2, A 8 5 3, A Q 8 2, 2, and on a good day you will make game with an overtrick.

Your result so far:

A: 5♣: You took a "false preference" to two spades because to play at spades might have been better and to give partner another chance if he had a strong hand. Indeed, your hand has become much more promising. Bid five clubs. Partner may hold A K 7 3 2, A J 7 6, None, K J 6 5.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦: Partner's double suggests opening values -- probably more -- with help for the unbid suits. You have enough strength for game, but you must find your best trump suit. (Partner may have three cards in one major and four in the other.) Cue-bid three diamonds to let him offer a suit.

Your result so far:

A: Pass: This is a matter of style to some extent. I know successful experts who would double (their partners always respond in clubs, I guess) and others who would lustily overcall 1NT. Since the hand is balanced and has good defensive values in the opening bidder's suit, no action other than a pass would occur to me.

Your result so far: