Strong Raises 3 by Paul Bowyer

A: 4♥. You know of an excellent Heart fit after partner has raised your 1♥ response (presumably of nine cards, although there are hands where North may have raised on three).

You also know of game values between the North-South hands (North has opened the bidding and you have 13 points).

It would be craven to bid anything less than game at this point.

Your result so far:

A: 4♥. Here, you can be quite confident of a nine-card Heart fit (cf Q1) and you have enough points for game (partner has jumped the bidding, so is showing 15-17 points or thereabouts).

You have enough information to justify bidding game; Passing 3♥ at this juncture would be a gross dereliction of duty.

Your result so far:

A: Pass. North is asking you to advance to game if you have any extras, anything above and beyond your minimum response. Well, you don't.

True, you have the bonus of having five Hearts, but that is all. The rest of your hand is a desert.

Pass lest worse befalls you.

Your result so far:

A: 4♥. You correctly responded up-the-line with your two four-card majors in the hope of finding a fit. Having done so it would be quite wrong to chicken out now.

Partner has guaranteed four trumps for his double raise and you know of game values for your side (10 opposite 15-17 or so).

Don't worry about your poor trumps – the fact that you have a 4-4 fit should give you a sturdy base.

Your result so far:

A: 3NT. Playing in a minor suit game is unappealing as eleven tricks are often too difficult to obtain, and you do know of game values between the North-South hands.

With stoppers in all suits it looks best to attempt the nine trick game of 3NT.

The ♣Q is likely to play a significant role when you attempt to reel off nine tricks.

Your result so far: