Partnership Bidding by Frank Stewart

A: 4♠: Your partner has a hand worth 17 or more points. With a fair hand and a long spade suit, he would have overcalled one spade. Since you have good spade support and a source of winners in diamonds (he probably has help in that suit also), bid four spades.

Your result so far:

A: Pass: Partner's jump-rebid is invitational to game but not forcing. He has about 15 to 17 high-card points with a long, strong suit. Pass. You lack the strength to go on. True, you might miss a decent contract of four hearts if partner has three good hearts, but you must bid your own side of the table.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠: Your hand is worth at least 11 points, hence you should try for game. Bid two spades to see how your partner feels. If he has a sound hand with spade help such as Q 4, K 9 5 3, A 3, A 9 6 4 3, he will jump to four hearts. With 5 4, K 9 3, A J, K J 9 4 3 2, he will bid three clubs to sign off, and you'll pass.

Your result so far:

A: 2♣: Partner has opening values or more with help for the unbid suits, hence game is possible. To land in your best trump suit, cue-bid two clubs, asking him to pick. This cue bid normally shows more strength, but since you didn't open the bidding, partner won't be misled.

Your result so far:

A: 2 NT: You have enough values to invite game but not to force, especially if your partner often opens light hands. Hence you can't afford to bid three hearts. A raise to three spades is possible, but his rebid did not promise a suit longer than five cards. Try 2NT despite the lack of a sure club stopper.


Your result so far: