North-South vulnerable.  
West deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A 4 3 2          
                              H: J 4 2       
                              D: J 10 8      
                              C: A Q J   
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 7                             S: Q J 10 9 5   
            H: A K 9 8 3                     H: 10 7       
            D: Q 7 6                         D: 5 4 3             
            C: K 8 7 5                       C: 10 6 2      
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: K 8 6
                              H: Q 6 5      
                              D: A K 9 2   
                              C: 9 4 3    
	The Bidding:
                   WEST   NORTH     EAST   SOUTH                  
                    1H     Pass     Pass     1NT  
                   Pass    3NT     (All Pass)
	Opening Lead: 3H  
     The 1994 Bols Bridge Tip competition is in the voting stage. 
This annual competition is sponsored by the Bols Royal
Distilleries of The Netherlands and the winner is selected by the
International Bridge Press Association.  My vote for the best
entry of 1994 goes to Mark Horton of Great Britain whose tip is
"Don't be afraid to respond to an opening bid."  Horton uses the
hand shown from the 1993 Spingold Masters Knockout Finals to
illustrate his tip.
     The bidding in the diagram led to a score of plus 600 for
North-South when declarer was able to end-play West in diamonds
and make nine tricks.  When the board was replayed, the auction
was a little different.     
                   WEST   NORTH     EAST   SOUTH                  
                    1H     Pass      1S     Pass  
                    2C     (All Pass) 
     East's decision to respond one spade left one of the world's
best pairs with no easy way to enter the auction.  Two clubs was
defeated easily, but at fifty points for each undertrick, there
was no way that North-South could offset the game at the other
table.
     Horton also refers to this example from a recent
International Team Tournament in Holland.
East-West vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: K 5                   
                              H: A K Q 10 9  
                              D: A Q J 7 6 5 
                              C: V o i d 
            WEST                             EAST
            S: A J 8 6                       S: 10 9 2       
            H: J 8 3                         H: 6 4 2      
            D: 8 4                           D: 10 3 2            
            C: K J 9 3                       C: A Q 8 2     
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: Q 7 4 3 
                              H: 7 5        
                              D: K 9       
                              C: 10 7 6 5 4
     After two passes, North at both tables opened one diamond. 
At one table, South decided that he had no reason to respond and
one diamond became the final contract.
     At the companion table, South responded one spade.  North
jumped to three hearts.  South took a preference to four
diamonds.  North bid four hearts and South returned to five
diamonds.  North now took a moment to consider that South had not
bid three no trump and also not cue bid clubs when the
opportunity came up.  Having decided that there were no wasted
values in the club suit, North went on to six diamonds.  It is
very apparent that this was the wining action.
     Often times, partner is very close to making a strong two
level opening but decides that he doesn't have just the right
structure for a demand bid.  Responder should stretch to keep the
auction open long enough for opener to show his full value.
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