Get your strength and distribution across by Bobby Wolff

A: 4♥: In my preferred style, the three-club call is a game or slam try with hearts agreed as trump, asking for help in clubs, typically based on four cards to an honor. A doubleton is a reasonable holding facing this, and your hand is well put together in terms of controls and supporting honors, so I would accept the invitation and bid four hearts.

Your result so far:

A: 2NT: In this sequence, a call of two clubs would be natural (suggesting a 4-1-4-4 or 4-0-5-4 pattern and a minimum), while a jump to three clubs would be the same pattern but with an extra ace. I can't see any good reason to drive this hand to game, so I would simply invite with a call of two no-trump. Let partner make the last mistake.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠: This hand is a dead minimum for an invitational jump to two spades, but your excellent intermediates and side-four card suit offer a lot of playing strength. The call does not guarantee a fifth card in spades, so while you may technically be sub-minimum in high cards, you are certainly within range because of your spot cards and shape.

Your result so far:

A: Double: When playing negative doubles, your inclination should always be to reopen in auctions of this sort, whether holding extra values or not, as long as you are short in the opponents' suit. Here you have both extras and short spades, making your decision an easy one. Yes, you have only three cards in the unbid major, but that should not distract you from showing your basic hand type.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦: Your partner has real extras in terms of shape or high cards -- or both. Given that you would surely have acted on your first turn with a better hand, you can afford to cue-bid two diamonds now, planning perhaps to pass a minimum call in a major or a bid of three clubs by your partner. North can now jump with real extras in context for the auction thus far.

Your result so far: