Goren Bridge

QUESTION 1: Neither hold:

A K 10 9

1♠ Pass 1NT Pass What call would you make?

A: Should you bid 2♠, you are destined to find partner with one spade and five hearts. Please, bid 2♥.

Q: North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

AKQ2 A97

1NT Pass 2♦* *Transfer to hearts

What call would you make?

A: No matter how good your hand is, just accept the transfer unless you have four-card support. Bid 2♥. Q: East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

3 J AKQ98743

1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 4♥ What call would you make?

A: Are you going to defend 4♥ with this hand? Of course not. Bid 5♦. Q: Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

A984 A83 Q54 K 10 6 Partner opens 1♦ and right-hand opponent bids 1♠. What call would you make? A: Bid 3NT. What else?

Q: North-South vulnerable, South, you hold:

AK982 Void

Q976

With the opponents passing, you open 1♠ and partner responds 2♥. What call would you make?

A: Don’t bid at the three level without extra values. Bid 2♠. A rare case where rebidding a five-card suit is best.

Q: East-West you hold:

KQ75 A:

Dear Amy: I’ve worked at a medium-size company 13 years. I attended an office lunch for new employees last week, and was totally shocked to see my exboyfriend, “Kieran,” among them! He had accepted a job and started at the company the week before.

We acknowledged each other, but I was so shocked that I didn’t say much to him, and left as soon as I could.

We dated for almost two years, and called it quits three years ago. At the time, I’d caught him lying about where he was and what he was doing. I didn’t trust him anymore, so I ended it.

It was a bad breakup. We haven’t talked since. We don’t follow each other on social media and I am dating a great guy now. I’m pretty sure Kieran is still single.

Kieran reached out to me over email, apologizing for the awkward workplace encounter, and asked if I wanted to grab some coffee. I told him I’m not ready. I want to be fair to my boyfriend’s feelings, too. (I haven’t told my boyfriend about this, yet.)

Shouldn’t Kieran have contacted me before he accepted a job at my company? Isn’t that selfish on his part?

How should I deal with this situation now? — Upset

Dear Upset: How strange — that the lying, selfish guy you broke up with three years ago isn’t behaving the way you want him to now.

Given that you have no contact, he does not owe you a heads-up about his employment, however (I’m assuming that neither of you supervises the other).

Behave professionally and cordially if you encounter him. Otherwise, ignore him. If you don’t want to have coffee, don’t; you don’t need to explain yourself. Tell your current boyfriend that “Kiernan” is working at your company. Keeping this a secret only ups the ante.