Here’s the first bidding quiz of the season:

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

  ♠️10 9 6 4

♥️ A Q 8 7 5

♦️ J 9

♣️ K 4

North opens 1NT and East passes. What do you bid?

A— Don’t transfer to hearts! If you do, you may miss a 4-4 spade fit. Instead bid 2♣️. If partner shows a four-card major, go to game in the suit. If partner bids 2♦️ showing no four-card major, bid a forcing 3♠️. That’s the Smolen convention showing four spades and five hearts. Let partner take it from there. (If you’re uncomfortable learning yet another convention, rebid 3♥️.)

Q. 2—Sitting South and dealing, with no one vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ J 4

♥️ K 9 5 4

♦️ A K 3

♣️ K Q J 10

What do you bid?

A—Some players won’t open 1NT without all four suits stopped. That’s a mistake. Suppose you open 1♣️ and partner responds 1♠️. You’d like to bid 1NT, but you’re stuck. 1NT would show 12-14 high-card points and 2NT 18-19 HCP. Better to open 1NT.

Q. 3—Sitting South and dealing, with none vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ K 10 9 6 3 2

♥️ 7 4 3

♦️ J

♣️ K 10 4

What do you bid?

A.—Despite a weak suit and poor hand, I’d open 2♠️ in the first seat. That’s because the balance of power probably belongs to East-West and you want to obstruct their auction. If your right-hand opponent opens with a pass, I’d pass in the second seat. You don’t want to obstruct partner in what may be a competitive action.

My editor Paul Laliberte disagrees. “Personally,” he writes, “I’d bid 2♠️ in either seat Although you may obstruct partner, opening 2♠️ in second seat may obstruct LHO as well. Your pre-empt always runs the risk of obstructing an unpassed partner, even when you pre-empt in first seat But it’s a bidder’s game, particularly at equal or favorable vulnerability. Of course, you may have second thoughts at unfavorable vulnerability. It’s a judgment call!”