What have you learned from the auction so far? by Bobby Wolff

A: 3♣: If you were to bid three hearts now, it would be natural and non-forcing (this hand without the heart queen, perhaps). You have enough to go to game, with the options being to raise to three no-trump, to bid four hearts or temporize with three clubs (normally a three-card suit) to try to extract a three-heart call from your partner. I'd go for the last of these, with the jump to four hearts as my second choice.

Your result so far:

A: 2NT: Your partner has a minimum takeout double, and you have a hand with no clear direction, but your trumps are too weak to consider defending. I'd bid two no-trump, which is not to play (though if partner forgets, you won't mind too much!), but suggests partner bid a minor. You surely have longer diamonds than clubs, or you would bid three clubs yourself.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦: Facing what you hope is a maximum pass, you should try to compete in a major suit. It looks sensible to try to make partner declarer to protect his tenaces, and you want to try to find a 4-4 major-suit fit. The easiest way here is to cue-bid two diamonds to get your partner to pick a major.

Your result so far:

A: 2NT: Although your heart honors are well placed, you can see that you have no real fit for partner's suits, so no source of tricks. It looks logical here to bid two no-trump, the value of your hand, rather than jump to the no-trump game. If partner passes, I'd expect you to struggle to come to even eight tricks.

Your result so far:

A: 2NT: Illogical as it might seem, this hand is closer to driving to three no-trump than it is to a pass of two spades. Your intermediates, especially the spade 10, suggest that you might make game on very few values altogether if you can set up spades. I would bid two no-trump, but would have sympathy for a jump to three no-trump.

Your result so far: