Balancing After Your Opponents Found a Fit by Matthias Huberschwiller

A: Double - You could not bid on the first round because you were not strong enough for a take-out double.

A balancing take-out double shows the same shape (shortness in Hearts and support for every other suit), but with fewer points.

This is a perfect hand for a double. Your partner will know you don't have many points, else you would have doubled on the first round.

Your result so far:

A: Pass - You have a lot of points in Hearts and a really flat hand. It's a bad idea to balance, especially vulnerable. Let them play 2♥.

Your result so far:

A: 2 NT - With such a shapely hand, you don't want to let them play 2♠, but you can't double, for you don't want your partner to bid Hearts.

Bid 2 NT. It's an unusual 2 NT, as it would be as a direct overcall, but with fewer points and fewer distributional requirements. (For a direct 2NT overcall, you need to be at least 5-5, but since you passed on the first round here, you could be only 5-4).

Your result so far:

A: Pass - Double would be for take-out. Let them play (and go down) in their Spade contract.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠ - You could not bid your Spades on the first round with such a weak suit, but in the balancing seat, you can.

Your partner will know you don't have a good hand, else you would have bid 1♠ on the first round.

Your result so far: