How do you fare? by Bobby Wolff

A: 3♣: Your partner's auction suggests extras, with club and heart length. (If he were balanced and minimum with four hearts, he would not have competed over two diamonds.) You needn't panic and pass two hearts just because you have no clear way forward. Revert to three clubs and let your partner move on if he wants to. Three diamonds would be the best forward-going move if you decide to cooperate.

Your result so far:

A: Double: It may look dangerous to balance here -- and indeed it is -- but does that mean you should stay silent? No; "too dangerous" is no excuse. The upside of bidding (pushing the opponents up a level or finding your side's fit) is counterbalanced by the occasional large penalty you will run into. Double two spades and let the chips fall where they may.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦ (if inverted): If you play inverted minors, where a simple raise is forcing for one round, this hand is duck soup. Equally, if you play a double raise as forcing, you will have no problems. If you play a simple raise is weak and a double raise invitational, then your choice is to invent a club suit or (my preference -- inelegant as it might seem) to bid three no-trump and protect your major-suit honors.


Your result so far:

A: 2NT: Here a call of two no-trump describes your values precisely. There is no reason to do more; your partner is not marked with real clubs -- he could easily have a balanced minimum with just four clubs. However, the more clubs he has, the fewer values he will possess, given his pass at his second turn. It is easy to imagine that a club partscore might be your safest spot -- but let your partner judge that for himself.


Your result so far:

A: 3♣: This sort of double is not for penalties. When you start by making a takeout double, you can't turn your hand into a penalty double the next time around. This sequence shows a really good hand (one that would have cue-bid two clubs if the call hadn't been stolen). With extra values but no extra length anywhere and thus no clear bid, you can fall back on the cue-bid of three clubs to show precisely this.


Your result so far: