Should you make a call or not? by Bobby Wolff

A: 3NT: This sequence is best played as artificial. (With four spades, North would have bid three or four no-trump; with five spades, he would have transferred.) The call should show slam interest with a heart fit. Your honor location and minimum values are not strong enough for a four-diamond cue-bid. But if you feel too good to sign off in four hearts now, you might use three no-trump as artificial here.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦: You have enough to force to game here, but no clear direction to go in. The simplest way to force to game is to start with a cue-bid of three diamonds. If partner bids three hearts, you can bid three spades and let partner decide where to go from there.

Your result so far:

A: 4NT: The double of a four-heart opening (or any auction where the opponents bid hearts and raise to four hearts) is primarily for takeout. It is less clear how to play a similar sequence where the opponents get to four spades -- I personally believe that is takeout-optional. But here you should have no problem bidding four no-trump to get partner to choose between the minors.

Your result so far:

A: Double: You have the right shape for a takeout double, promising both majors. All that is standing between you and action is the absence of high cards, but should that matter? I don't think so. You would have gladly responded to one club, so you should equally gladly double here and get your partner into the action. You'd rather have a better hand, but if wishes were horses...

Your result so far:

A: Pass: I am normally an aggressive overcaller, especially when bidding spades over a minor. Here, though, when facing a passed hand with a weak suit and a hand so playable in suits other than spades, I would tend to pass first and plan to back in if the opponents limit themselves or find a fit. Give me a top honor in spades instead of hearts, and I would feel differently.

Your result so far: