1. You hold:
S: K 5
H: 9 7 4 2
D: A 6 3
C: Q 7 6 3.
Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he next bids 1NT. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Bid two clubs. Partner neither bid one spade at his second turn nor raised the hearts. Since he doesn't have four cards in either major suit and didn't open one diamond, he must have four or more clubs. A club partscore will be safer, especially since your heart "suit" is so weak.

2. You hold:
S: A 5 2
H: A 8 4 3
D: 9 6 3
C: Q 10 6.
Your partner opens one club, you bid one heart and he jumps to two spades. You return to three clubs, and partner next bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner's two spades is forcing to game; he has at least 20 points and suggests shortness in diamonds. A typical hand-K Q 7 4, K 6 5, A, A K J 7 4 -- offers a good play for six clubs. Bid three spades, intending to cue-bid in hearts next to encourage slam.

3. You hold:
S: K 9 8 6 4
H: 7
D: J 10 9 2
C: Q 5 4.
Your partner opens one club, you respond one spade and he then jumps to 2NT. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner promises 19 or 20 points with balanced distribution. (He might have a fine-looking 18 points.) Since notrump looks unattractive, bid three clubs or three diamonds. If partner insists on 3NT, you'll pass, but if he next bids three spades, you'll bid four spades.

4. You hold:
S: K 6 5 3
H: 9
D: J 9 6 3 2
C: A 8 6.
Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two diamonds and you raise to three diamonds. Partner next bids three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your three diamonds invited game, and partner accepted; his three spades is forcing. Your spades are too flimsy to play four spades, but you have a fifth diamond, and your ace of clubs is ideal opposite partner's likely singleton. Bid five diamonds.

5. You hold:
S; A 7
H: A K 8
D: 8 4
C: K J 7 6 5 3.
Your partner opens one heart, you respond two clubs, he bids two diamonds and you jump to three hearts. Partner next bids four diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Since your bid of three hearts set the trump suit, partner's four diamonds is a cue bid, suggesting slam. Since you have good values, "controls" and strong trumps, you can cooperate: Cue-bid four spades or jump to six hearts.

6. You hold:
S: J 6
H; K Q 8 7 4 3
D; K 5
C; A 9 4.
Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: You must insist on game, but neither a jump to four hearts nor a bid of 3NT is sure to land you at the best contract. Since you need more information, force with a "fourth suit" bid of two clubs. If partner bids 2NT next, you can continue with three hearts, forcing, or raise to 3NT.

7. You hold:
S: A 5 2
H: 10 9 8 7 4 3
D; Q 2
C; A K.
Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: You're going places but can't as yet be sure where. You may belong at 3NT or four hearts, but if your partner holds K Q 3, None, A K J 9 5 3, Q J 7 6, your best spot is seven diamonds. Stall with a "fourth suit" bid of two spades. If partner next bids, say, three diamonds, slam in diamonds is likely.

8. You hold:
S: 9 7
H: A Q J
D: Q J 7
C: A Q 8 7 4.
You open 1NT, and your partner bids two diamonds, a "transfer" response. You bid two hearts as required, and he bids 2NT. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner promises a five-card heart suit and enough values to invite game: about eight points. You must place the contract, and since you have sound values, three good hearts and a ruffing feature in spades, jump to four hearts.