Is the shown sequence forcing or not? by Bobby Wolff

A: 2♦: Partner is asking for more information with fourth suit forcing. Your choice is to rebid two diamonds, emphasizing your shape, or two no-trump to show the club stopper. Here, the diamonds are so strong you should rebid them, both because it is economical and because you can show the stopper later.

Your result so far:

A: 3NT: In modern Standard American, where the two-over-one response is game forcing, the best way for opener to define his hand at his second turn is to rebid two no-trump, to show 12-14 or 18-plus balanced. Meanwhile, a jump to three no-trump would suggest 15-17 and a semi-balanced hand. That being so, simply raise to three no-trump, knowing partner will bid on with extras.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠: Start by cue-bidding two spades, planning to bid clubs at your next turn. If partner shows a spade stopper by rebidding two no-trump, you can seriously consider slam; otherwise, you are likely to end up in five clubs. Four hearts is another possible game, but it will be up to partner to reach that suit.

Your result so far:

A: 3♣: This hand is far too good just to jump to four spades now. (You would make that call if the club ace were the diamond queen, for example.) You should cue-bid three clubs and follow up with four spades at your next turn to try to get your extra values across. This sequence doesn't specifically say anything, except that it promises more than a direct four-spade bid.


Your result so far:

A: 4♥: Your partner's actions show a forcing hand with hearts. A new suit in competition is best played as non-forcing. So here, three hearts is assumed to be natural, and your three-card support makes the raise easy. If partner had bid three spades instead of three hearts, your call would have been harder, but I think I would still raise.

Your result so far: