What's the contract you want to play? by Bobby Wolff

A: Pass: It is easy to construct hands where your side can make game in hearts. Does that mean you should bid on? Absolutely not! When you know your side has at most 24 HCP and an eight-card or possibly even a seven-card trump fit, you should pass without hesitation. At pairs, the calculation is even easier, since you really want to protect your plus score if you can.

Your result so far:

A: 2♣: I agree with not opening one no-trump here. But how should you advance after the double? You could simply bid two clubs, or if you play redouble as strong (and not a support double promising three spades), that would be fine, too. Passing or bidding one no-trump just seems wrong, though -- you may never catch up.

Your result so far:

A: Double: I may be going out on a limb here, but I like a penalty double here. Your partner will pull with real extra shape (especially if he has concealed spade support), but if he has a balanced hand with spade shortage, you surely want to defend here -- don't you?

Your result so far:

A: 4NT: In the absence of complex partnership agreements to describe this hand, you may be better off simply making a quantitative jump to four no-trump. This focuses on the minors and lets partner judge his range and shape better than you can. Incidentally, this is one of the very few sequences where Gerber would apply.

Your result so far:

A: 4♥: Your partner has shown the equivalent of an Acol Two opening: eight to nine playing tricks in hearts. This is not 100 percent forcing, but the next best thing to it, and despite your notable lack of high cards, your doubleton club and spades are just enough to raise your partner to game. Don't expect any overtricks.

Your result so far: