how to best get your hand type across. by Bobby Wolff

A: 2♦: Not every minimum 6-4 hand is governed by the same principles, but I do have strong opinions about this specific hand. When you can bid both your suits and your four-card suit is strong (at least two top honors, or one top honor and good intermediates), bid your second suit and show nine of your cards, not six.

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A: 3NT: However good your diamond fit might be, you should simply raise to three no-trump without looking for the minor-suit game. With no singletons, you would be aiming at too small a target to assume that any game but no-trump could be right. If partner had very short hearts (when diamonds might play better), he would surely not have chosen to jump in no-trump, but would have bid a second suit.

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A: 3♣: Your partner's double is responsive -- it applies after the raise of opener's suit, but not after a new suit bid by your LHO. It is for takeout, but the double of a heart call tends to deny spades, since your partner would bid them if he had them. You should simply bid your cheaper, not stronger, minor. So bid three clubs.

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A: 2♥: You have a stark choice here. Pass the two-no-trump opening bid or transfer into spades, after which you can pass, or offer a choice of games with a call of three no-trump. I prefer to start with a transfer, but I would plan to pass the completion of the transfer. This doesn't have to be right; however, since partner can always break the transfer with a super fit, I'll settle for part-score if he doesn't.

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A: Double: Do you see my megaphone? I am about to speak very loudly and clearly. Never overcall at the two-level in direct seat on a suit like this. A takeout double may lead to your missing a 5-3 diamond fit, but that is hardly the end of the world. Conversely, overcalling here may get you into all kinds of trouble. I would pass a one-spade opener, by the way, considering there to be no serious second choice.

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