Shirley Manson, a Scottish singer and songwriter best known for her part in Garbage, an American alternative rock band, said, "I am laughably aggressive, and the rest of the band is very laid-back, so we mix well."

As we have been witnessing all week, at the bridge table it usually pays to be aggressive in the auction. This is particularly true when you have a good fit with your partner or, if no-trump is in the offing, you have a long minor suit you are hoping to run.

For example, look at the North hand in the diagram. What would you respond after partner opens one no-trump, showing a balanced hand with 15 to 17 points? Would it make any difference if the club queen were, say, the four?

The strength of your hand depends on partner's diamond holding. If he has a low doubleton, you will be lucky to get five tricks from the suit. (It has an a priori probability of 33.9 percent, finding West with king-doubleton or king-third.) But if he has the king, your chance of six tricks leaps up.

With the club queen, I think you should plunge into three no-trump. The vulnerable game bonus is a powerful lure.

Without the club queen, if you do not use transfer bids into the minors, jump to three no-trump. However, if you use transfers into the minors, respond two no-trump, showing diamonds. If partner rebids three diamonds, saying that he likes diamonds, he must have the king and you can sign off in three no-trump. But if partner rebids three clubs, saying that he does not like diamonds, you can sign off in three diamonds.

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