Responding to weak two-bids by Paul Bowyer

A: Pass. Partner has long Diamonds and not much else. You might be better off in Spades (although you probably won't be!) but 2♠ is forcing so bidding will only crank the auction up to an uncomfortable height. Pass, look bored and hope that West wanders into the lion's den.

Your result so far:

A: 4♥. You don't need much over there to make game. You know of six heart tricks and the ♠A for seven tricks. If partner has a helpful Club or Spade honor then that together with a couple of Diamond ruffs and we are home.

True, 4♥ may fail but "faint heart ne'er won fair lady" and all that jazz.

Your result so far:

A: 4♠. With a Spade blockage you must play this hand in Spades. No-trumps may be too difficult if we can't reach the dummy in good time. Surely partner can make ten tricks in Spades?

Your result so far:

A: 4♠. You must raise the barrage and make West's life a misery. Is he coming into the bidding, vulnerable, at the five-level?

You may ask how anyone knows whether you have the picture gallery of the previous hand (Question 3) or this shapely hand when you raise to the four-level. The answer is that nobody knows but you. West is guessing and partner doesn't care. No matter what happens next he is going to Pass and leave matters to you.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦. Second choice 4♦. You shouldn't Pass and make it easy for West to enter the auction at the two-level. 3♦ is just raising the barrage and making East-West's job just that little harder.

You might buy the hand in 2♦ if you Pass, you say? Fat chance!

Your result so far:

A: 4♠. You have to have a shot at game on a hand like this. Six Spade tricks and the ♦A K makes eight tricks and partner figures to have something outside of his suit. Even if he doesn't you will probably just be fishing for the ♣Q.

Your result so far:

A: 3♠. You have to raise the barrage here with three trumps and short Hearts, hoping to buy the hand in 3♠. Passing (hoping to steal the hand in 2♠) is unrealistic. East-West may bid and make 4♥ if you are unlucky. Make West guess whether to bid at the four-level.

Your result so far:

A: Pass. You may have 17 points but you have no Aces. Even if partner has two he will have to be very lucky to avoid losing two Aces and two trump tricks in 4♠.

3NT is a long way off. How do you expect to set up and reach partner's Spades?

Your result so far:

A: 2♠. This is forcing and asks partner for further information. It is possible that a vulnerable North has Spade support and that 4♠ is makeable. You should be wary of playing in No-trumps with a singleton Ace.

Your result so far:

A: 3NT. A vulnerable 2♦ opener should have decent Diamonds in which case you can see nine tricks (six Diamonds and three Aces).

Too many losers to play this in 5♦.

Your result so far: