How do you best show your strength? by Frank Stewart

A: 3♦: You can't rebid the spades again or bid notrump or raise the clubs. Bid three diamonds. Your partner has a good hand, and your Q-8 may prove to be useful support. If he has a hand such as 4 3, A, A K 10 7 5 3, K J 9 3, he will cue-bid three hearts next, and you will end at six diamonds.

Your result so far:

A: 2♥: You could roar into 3NT, but you might look silly if dummy tabled an ordinary hand such as 2, K 5 2, A 8 7 6 2, K Q J 10. A raise to three clubs would only invite game, and a jump to four clubs would bypass 3NT, which might be the best game. Bid two hearts, the "fourth suit," intending to support the clubs next.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠: A minimum hand for partner such as J 3, A 3 2, K J 8 5 3, A 9 3 will make six diamonds all but a laydown. Jump to two spades, intending to support the diamonds next, telling him right away that slam is likely so he can cooperate. You don't need 19 points for a jump-shift, only a vision of slam and an idea of what suit will be trumps.

Your result so far:

A: 3♣: You have the values to insist on game, but a jump to three hearts or three spades would only invite. To bid four hearts might work, but if partner's hearts are weak or the suit breaks badly, he might go down when 3NT would make. Bid three clubs, the "fourth suit," hoping to make a winning decision later.

Your result so far:

A: 1♦: Many experts open 2NT with a balanced 20 or 21 points. Some do so with 19 points. I agree with one diamond here. The long suit is ragged, and the heart honors are stuck in a short suit. I avoid opening 2NT -- a space-consuming action -- when I can open with one of a suit.


Your result so far: