You don't always have the correct shape by Bobby Wolff

A: 3♣: Your partner has suggested a good hand with short spades, or he could not back into an auction where he was unable to overcall at the one-level. He must surely also have club length. So you can safely bid three clubs as a suggestion of a place to play, perhaps a little worried that you have not yet done your hand full justice.

Your result so far:

A: 1♠: There is no correct answer to the question of whether a new suit by advancer, the partner of the overcaller, should guarantee five cards, or of whether it should be forcing by an unpassed hand. I argue that it is better for constructive bidding to play it as "intended as forcing." And even if it should be a five-card suit, what else can you do here but bid one spade?

Your result so far:

A: 3♣: Your partner's raise to two spades suggests some extras in the form of four trumps, but not necessarily real extras in high cards. Though you have a fine hand in context, you do not really have enough to drive to game; but surely the three-level should be safe. I would bid three clubs now and be prepared to drive to game if given the slightest encouragement.

Your result so far:

A: 2♥: Not all bad hands oblige you to pass at every turn. Here, your shape requires you to compete to two hearts, even if your partnership doesn't rate to have more than half the deck between you. With your extra shape, you shouldn't worry about your honor location. Let the opponents worry about it instead.


Your result so far:

A: 2♥: You do not have enough to drive to game here, so the question is whether you need to do more than bid two hearts. Since you would expect partner to find another call with, for example, the heart queen and a black major honor, a bid of two hearts looks sufficient.

Your result so far: