How do you think you should describe your hand? by Bobby Wolff

A: 2♠: While this may look like a dead minimum for a jump to two spades, that is clearly the right call. Your hand improved dramatically when your partner suggested relative shortness in clubs, meaning that all your honors are working overtime. Had your left-hand opponent opened a red suit, it would be less clear that jumping to two spades is the right call -- though you might do it anyway.


Your result so far:

A: Double: If you were in direct seat, you would bid one no-trump, of course. But in balancing seat, this hand looks too strong for a call where the range is traditionally played as 10-15. Start by doubling, planning to rebid one no-trump over your partner's cheap response in a major.

Your result so far:

A: 4♥: Jumps by a passed hand facing an overcall should be played as fit. Your partner can't have only spades, or he would have overcalled or bid one spade at his second turn. I'd expect a hand with a decent four-card spade suit and heart support. This hand has enough extras to jump straight to four hearts now to protect the club king.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦: A simple one here. Diamonds will surely play better than no-trump, so you can bid a non-forcing three diamonds, hoping desperately that your partner can give delayed preference to spades with a doubleton, whereupon you can bid four spades.

Your result so far:

A: 4♣: The three-heart call is forcing. Once you bid voluntarily, your partner showed real extras, so you must bid again. This hand doesn't feel right for a bid of three no-trump, so the choice is to bid clubs or raise hearts. I think a four-club call is more flexible. If partner bids four diamonds, you can bid four hearts.

Your result so far: