Do you know all the correct answers? by Bobby Wolff

A: 4♣: You did not have enough to break the transfer over two diamonds, but now, just in case your partner has close to slam values, you can bid four clubs. This suggests a source of tricks in clubs and your excellent trumps and controls warrant this try to pique partner's interest.


Your result so far:

A: Pass: When is it right to open light in third seat? Normally, with an obstructive call or a lead-directing suit, you can step out of line -- either a little or a lot, depending on your temperament. For me, this hand meets neither requirement, since I don't really want clubs to be led, and such a call hardly gets in my opponents' way. So I'd pass here.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠: You have a relatively simple decision here. Your partner has clubs and spades and has indirectly limited his hand by his failure to jump to two spades. But he could certainly have 17 high-card points and a 5-4 pattern, for example. Does that mean you should pass? With three working honors in the black suits, I think the hand is just worth a raise to two spades. If partner had opened one diamond, I might pass now.

Your result so far:

A: 1NT: There may appear to be three conceivable actions here (bidding either red suit or no-trump), but in practice, one of these actions is verboten. To bid two hearts -- a higher suit than your opening bid, at the two-level -- shows real extras; this is defined as a reverse. Since a two-diamond rebid typically shows six trumps, the rebid of one no-trump is comfortably the best option, to show a balanced 12-14 points.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦: Don't get carried away yet. Your partner could still have three small spades and a Yarborough! You have already shown a good hand, and the question is whether to show a strong balanced hand with a call of one (or two) no-trump or to raise spades to the two- or three-level. I'm not convinced that anything more than a cue-bid raise of two diamonds is called for.

Your result so far: