LEARNING CENTER

1. This is the typical "avoid the rebid" problem by opening 1. If you open 1, you are unprepared for a 1 response from partner.

1. There is no reason to distort your suit lengths here. You are prepared for any response to 1. If partner responds in a red suit, you can show your 4-card spade suit. 1-1-1 is not a reverse! A reverse has to be a rebid on a higher level of a higher-ranking suit than opener's first suit. If partner responds 1, you have enough to raise to 3. Only a 1NT response will slightly inconvenience you. In that unlikely event, you can rebid 2 (the opponents will have at least a 10-card heart fit!).

1. If you open 1, the most likely thing out of partner's mouth (or bidding box) is 1. You are then stuck. Anticipating this dilemma, the best opening is 1 (followed by 2 if partner bids the expected 1).

1. This time, the bigger distortion would be 1. With such good clubs, I prefer to take a chance with 1 and cope. If partner responds 1, I would rebid 1NT (the singleton is a high honor and in partner's suit). This is the least of evils. But, please don't tell anyone that Larry Cohen recommended rebidding 1NT with a singleton.

1. As in #4, it is a question of giving the most accurate description. This doesn't feel like 1 then 2 with such a disparity in suit quality. I like 1 to start. If partner responds in a major, you have a choice of repeating the clubs (usually this would show 6) or 1NT (a bit short on a stopper in the other major).