Q. 1 — Sitting South and dealing, with North-South vulnerable, you hold:

♠ A K
♥ 9 7 5 2
♦ 5
♣ A 10 7 5 3 2

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

South          West          North         East
1♣             Pass           1♥             Pass
?

What do you bid?

A. — You have just discovered a gold mine. You have the 8+ “magic fit” in hearts, no spade losers, one diamond loser and the potential to create winners in the club suit. Hang the unfavorable vulnerability: bid 3♥. With anything extra, partner will bid game.

Q. 2 — The next four questions should strike a chord with people who played in the Island Bridge Club game of July 14. Sitting South, with North dealing and East-West vulnerable, you hold:

♠ K Q 8 5 4
♥ 4
♦ Q J 6 4
♣ 10 6 3

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

North          East          South          West
1NT*          Pass         2♥**           Pass
2♠             Pass          ?

* 15-17 high-card points
** Transfer to spades

What do you bid?

A. — It’s tempting to bid 3♦ to show a two-suited hand, but that would force to game. Bid 2NT to show exactly five spades and 8-9 HCP.

Q. 3 — Sitting South, with East dealing and North-South vulnerable, you hold:

♠A K 9
♥A Q 4
♦9 5 4 3
♣8 6 2

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

East          South         West          North
Pass          1♦             Pass          1♠
Pass          ?

What do you bid?

A. — 1NT. You aren’t required to have the unbid suits covered. Bidding 1NT shows even distribution and 12-14 HCP.

Q. 4 — Sitting South, with North dealing and no one vulnerable, you hold:

♠A
♥K J 8 6 5 2
♦K Q 7 3
♣9 8

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

North         East           South         West
1♦            Pass           1♥             Pass
1♠            Pass           ?

What do you bid?

A. — You have enough points for game, but you don’t know about partner’s hearts. Bid an artificial 2♣ , “fourth-suit-forcing,” and await partner’s response. If you had instead bid 3 ♥ or 3 ♦, neither bid would be forcing.

Q. 5 — Sitting South and dealing, with North-South vulnerable, you hold:

♠ Q J 10 6 3 2
♥ K 9
♦—
♣ K J 9 7 4

What do you bid?

A. — This looks like a standard 2♠ bid, but with an acceptable trump suit, great clubs and shortness in the red suits, it qualifies as a Rule of 22 opener. As the first player to bid in the first or second seat, you can open if your HCP plus the length of your two longest suits plus your quick tricks equal 22 or better. You have 10 HCP, 11 spades and clubs, and two kings worth half a trick apiece. Bid 1♠.