By Phillip Alder

You have a big balanced hand, but suddenly the opponent on your right opens the bidding with one of a suit. How do you show the strength of your hand?

An overcall of one no-trump shows a good 15 to a poor 18 points -- about half a point more than a one-no-trump opening bid. (That means that you would not overcall with a poor 15, but will make the bid with a "weak" 18. Remember that this overcall is dangerous because your left-hand opponent, the responder, is in a good position to double for penalty if he has a decent hand.)

If you make a takeout double and rebid a minimum number of no-trump, it shows 18-20 points. And a double followed by a jump in no-trump is 21-22 (if you can bid two no-trump, but might be stronger if you have to bid three no-trump).

In this deal, South doubles, then rebids one no-trump with 19 points. North, with a six-count and a five-card suit, should have no reservation in bidding three no-trump. Remember, it pays to be aggressive in these situations because declarer will know where the missing high cards are concentrated -- in the opener's hand.

After West leads the club queen, the play should be straightforward. South needs to take four diamond tricks. But if East started with at least three diamonds and knows to hold up his ace until the third round of the suit, declarer will need a dummy entry. So, he must take the first trick in his hand with the club ace. Then he drives out the diamond ace and cruises home.

Copyright 2011, United Feature Syndicate