How do you best get your hand across? by Frank Stewart

A: 4♦: Your partner has suggested slam. If content to play at game, he would have bid four hearts. Since you have a sound hand, you can issue one mild try for slam. Cue-bid four diamonds to show top values in that suit.

Your result so far:

A: 1NT: A bid of one diamond would promise nothing other than some diamonds. A jump to two diamonds would show about 10 points but would not aim at the most likely game. Bid 1NT, showing six to 10 points, balanced, with at least one trick in clubs. The alternative: a jump to 2NT to invite game.

Your result so far:

A: 3NT: Many experts would condemn a response of 3NT because it's a space-consuming action that may impede slam investigation. Still, I would choose that call because it describes the hand in one bid. After a response of two clubs, you might have a hard time showing your hand and eliciting cooperation from partner.


Your result so far:

A: 4♠: Partner's three spades shows slam interest. If he wished to settle for game, he would have bid it. I believe many experts would now cue-bid four clubs, but your values are not slammish; you have one ace, one king and weak trumps. I would accept a sign-off at four spades.

Your result so far:

A: 4NT: My inclination would be to bid 4NT, planning to try six hearts if partner admits to two aces. In theory, it is wrong to use Blackwood with two possible diamond losers, but partner is likely to have a high diamond. The problem with any delicate probing sequence is that he will never cooperate because of his terrible heart suit.


Your result so far: