Wolff_bid_0001 by Bobby Wolff

A: Redouble: Start by redoubling to show that you believe your side has the balance of power. At your next turn, you can raise spades. This route will suggest a doubleton trump and approximately a minimum for the auction thus far. Some people play the redouble as conventional here, but I believe it is far more valuable to show a decent hand than to show a top trump honor, for example.


Your result so far:

A: 4♣: In competition your partner's two-heart bid shows extras. A reversion to three clubs by you would be nonforcing. With a good hand you could cue-bid, but that might deny a clear direction. Here, you know you want to play clubs, so jump to four clubs, which is forcing. You can cue-bid later.

Your result so far:

A: 5♦: In the context of limit raises, you couldn't have a better hand. While there is a slim chance that you have three fast spade losers, I think your third-round club control allows you to bid five diamonds now, suggesting an additional diamond control and no spade control. The five-level really should be safe.



Your result so far:

A: 3♦: Although I'm loath to suggest additional conventions for the intermediate player, I believe that a raise to three diamonds should be forcing now. With a weak hand here, South should bid either fourth suit or two no-trump (whichever is cheaper) as an artificial statement of weakness, denying five cards in his original suit. Repeating his own suit should simply show five cards and be a one-round force.



Your result so far:

A: 4♥: Beware of using the ubiquitous and iniquitous cuebid simply to announce a good hand. This is a task for ... super cue-bid! Here, a jump to four hearts is a splinter agreeing clubs and setting up a game-force. As you can see, slam might be cold facing the right minimum hand, and you owe it to your partner not to give up on it just because both opponents are bidding.

Your result so far: