Competitive situations by Bobby Wolff

A: Double: It is tempting to bid one spade here, but that should show at least a five-card suit. Double is the best call to show values, at least tolerance for diamonds, and a maximum pass. This double can be referred to as Snapdragon, Competitive or a Fourth-suit double, but they all mean approximately the same thing.

Your result so far:

A: 3♥: The spade void is not necessarily a plus factor here, and some of your minor-suit cards may not be pulling their full weight. Nonetheless, you cannot pass two hearts here, so you should raise to three hearts and pass the buck to your partner.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦: Your hand looks too good for a purely competitive three-heart call, even if your spade honors may be wasted. I'd bid three diamonds as a game-try for hearts. Were my king in clubs instead of diamonds, I'd try three clubs, which should be a try for game rather than a suggestion of an alternative contract. Once hearts have been agreed, the partnership should not need to look for a different strain.

Your result so far:

A: Pass: In competitive auctions, jumps to the five-level tend to be focused on the need for either a control in the danger suit or good trumps. Here there is no space, and my guess without detailed discussion would be that my partner might first cue-bid four spades then bid five hearts with a spade control. So I'll pass, despite my good trump.

Your result so far:

A: 3♠: Your auction is now game forcing, so you do not need to jump to four spades. Make a simple raise of spades, planning to cue-bid at your next turn if partner shows slam interest. It would be nice to be able to cue-bid directly, but a jump to four diamonds would sound like short diamonds in a spade raise.

Your result so far: