1. You hold: ♠K Q 10 8 6 2 ♥None ♦K Q J 3 ♣10 8 5. With the opponents vulnerable, your partner opens three clubs, and the next player doubles. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your opponent's double is for takeout, and since your partner promises long clubs, the opponents have a huge heart fit. Jump to 5♣ to make them guess. If they double, the penalty won't be severe. If they bid 5♥, you'll pass and hope your side can win three defensive tricks.

2. You hold: ♠A 7 4 2 ♥A K 10 ♦10 6 5 ♣K Q 3. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: Since you hold five "working" honors, you may have a slam: Give partner a suitable minimum hand such as ♠3 ♥Q 9 7 6 4 ♦A K 4 ♣A J 9 6. A jump to 3♥ would invite game, and you'd bid 4♥ if your ace of hearts were a low heart. Bid 5♥ or stall with a "fourth-suit" bid of 2♦.

3. You hold: ♠A K 3 ♥9 ♦J 9 8 2 ♣10 8 5 4 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond 1NT and he bids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say? ANSWER: Raise to 3♣. After your 1NT response, partner won't expect more values. A possible alternative is a bid of 2♠. Since you didn't respond one spade, you'd suggest club support with strength in spades, but most experts would prefer an even better hand for that bid.

4. You hold: ♠Q J 10 3 ♥A Q 4 3 ♦7 4 2 ♣Q 5. Dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player raises to two diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your partner has support for the unbid suits with opening values or more. Since you hold 11 useful points, game at a major suit is likely. Cue-bid 3♦ in case partner has four cards in only one major suit. When he bids a major next, raise to game. Responsive double would show a weaker hand (no more than 10 points).

5. You hold: ♠A 3 ♥Q 10 5 2 ♦A 10 5 ♣A K 10 4. Dealer, at your right, opens one spade. You double, and your partner bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: To jump to game is tempting, but your partner had to respond to your double and promises no values. If he holds 8 7 6 2, J 9 6 3, 8 7 6, 9 2, even the level of three may be too high. Nevertheless, you must raise to 3♥ since game is possible if he has a better hand.

6. You hold: ♠J 8 5 3 2 ♥A 9 2 ♦7 2 ♣K J 7. Dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, you jump to two spades and he raises to three spades. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: This decision is close: Your jump to two spades invited game and promised 9 to 11 points. Your fifth spade will be a winner, you can probably ruff at least one heart in dummy and your jack of clubs is supported by the king. I'd bid 4♠.

7. You hold: ♠J 7 ♥K Q 9 6 2 ♦Q J 9 7 5 3 ♣None. With neither side vulnerable, the dealer, at your right, opens one club. What do you say? ANSWER: Bid 2NT. This is the "Unusual Notrump," a two-bids-for-the-price-of-one gadget. You promise ten or more cards in the two lower-ranking unbid suits and suggest a hand good for offense but weak in defensive values. You invite a sacrifice if the opponents reach game, but your partner must make that decision.

8. You hold: ♠A 10 9 3 ♥K J 9 ♦K 3 2 ♣A 10 9. Dealer, at your left, opens one club, and two passes follow. What do you say?
ANSWER: Double, intending to bid 1NT next if your partner bids a suit at the level of one. An immediate bid of 1NT would show less strength: as few as 11 points. "Balancing" actions in the "passout" seat promise less strength than usual; since the opponents have stopped low, you assume your partner has a few values.