Here are some hands that can be bid two different ways:

Sitting South and dealing, with no one vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ K Q 10 4

♥️ K Q 3

♦️ Q 6 4

♣️ 9 6 2

What do you bid:

A.—A lot of people would open any 12-point hand. Others would follow the

Rule of 20 in the first or second seat: Add your points and two longest suits. If the answer is 20 or higher, open. So, with 12 points and seven length points, pass. I’m reluctant to bid a flat 12-pointer; I would open with two aces, since Marty Bergen says they’re worth 4 1/2 high-card points each.

Sitting South and dealing, with North-South vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ 6

♥️ A Q J 9 8 7 5 4 3 2

♦️ 3

♣️ J

What would you bid:

A.—Many players would bid a pre-emptive 4♥️. I think the 10-card heart suit makes the hand too strong to pre-empt, since there might be a slam. I’d bid 1♥️ and jump to 4♥️ over partner’s response.

3) Sitting North, with South dealing and no one vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ K 5

♥️ J 9 6 5 2

♦️ Q 9

♣️ K 10 9 2

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

South West North East

1NT Pass 2♦️• Pass

2♥️ Pass 2NT Pass

3♥️ Pass ?

• Transfer to hearts

What would you bid?

A)—Seeing a heart fit of at least eight cards, many Norths would add two points for the doubletons and raise to 4♥️. Knowing that the ♦️Q might be worthless, and partner could have as few at 15 high-card points, I’d pass. Of the 11 pairs that bid 4♥️ in a duplicate game, four made the contract and seven went down one. All six pairs that bid 2♥️ or 3♥️ made the contract, with three making four or five.

Either argument holds water.