Investigate your side's best contract by Bobby Wolff

A: 4♥: You have no idea whether game is the limit in spades, or if you should play a small or even a grand slam. A jump to four spades would surely end the auction. So you should cue-bid four hearts, planning to raise a four-spade call to five. Since a direct jump to five spades would have asked for a heart control, this sequence should simply be offering partner the chance to evaluate his hand for slam.


Your result so far:

A: 2♣: Standard expert practice here is to use Crawling Stayman, to get to your best fit at the two-level. Here you can bid two clubs, planning to pass a response in a major but to bid two hearts over a response of two diamonds. This last call would show both majors and no game interest. Your partner must pass, or correct two hearts to two spades with 3-2 in the majors.

Your result so far:

A: 1NT: Unpalatable as it may appear at first glance, I believe your best bet is to rebid one no-trump, showing a balanced hand and simulating a heart stopper. The unattractive alternatives are to raise spades on a doubleton, which I would hate to do even if partner had promised five, or to rebid diamonds, which really ought to show six -- or a far better suit.

Your result so far:

A: 1♠: It is tempting to redouble and go headhunting, and indeed, at certain vulnerabilities that might be a sensible approach. But if the other option is to make a forcing call of one spade, I prefer that route. It becomes surprisingly difficult to get these invitational hands off your chest unless you start low, and waiting around won't make them any easier to describe.

Your result so far:

A: 4♠: You may have only a five-count, but your hand looks to have enough extra shape in terms of club fit and spade length to be worth a shot at game. Spades will be easier to make than clubs, even if you have a 4-4 fit, so I would simply jump to four spades now. In this auction, unless playing Wolff sign-off, all continuations are game-forcing, by the way.

Your result so far: