Jill McCorkle, a short story writer and novelist, said, "You want to feel that your reader does identify with the characters, so that there's a real entry into the story - that some quality speaks to the individual."

I want to feel that my readers do identify with the bidding and play points of each deal. In today's example, how should South play in three no-trump after West leads the heart eight?

South was right to open one club despite only 11 high-card points; that excellent club suit was worth a couple more points. On the second round, South had to rebid two clubs; two hearts would have been a reverse promising some 17-20 points. North might have rebid three no-trump, but sensibly temporized with two diamonds, which was forcing for one round, in the hope that South could show three-card spade support.