Contract Bridge

1. Three notrump. You can’t be sure this is the best contract, but the odds favor making three notrump. Most players treat a bid of three clubs in this situation as competitive but nonforcing, and it would therefore be unwise to run the risk of partner’s passing with a hand likely to produce game at notrump.

Partner is a strong favorite to have at least one heart stopper, and once this is granted, the best chance for game lies in notrump. Five clubs could be a better contract than three notrump, but there is no way of exploring that possibility without bypassing the notrump game.

2. Four spades. You have only 10 points in high cards, but game is nevertheless likely given partner’s spade rebid and the added value of your singleton heart. To merely invite partner to go on by bidding three spades is too pessimistic a view to take. It is unlikely partner will lose four tricks opposite this hand.

3. Five clubs. You can’t afford to bid only four clubs because you would do that with a much weaker hand. The best way of showing your values is by jumping to five clubs, which just about represents what you have.

If partner passes, you will probably make just five clubs; if he raises to six, you will probably make that also. The trap to avoid is four clubs, which would not do your hand justice.

4. Two spades. Partner is most likely to have five spades and four hearts, or five spades and five hearts. Since you have a definite preference for spades, you should let partner know that right now. Partner already knows you have enough points to respond initially on the two-level, so there is no need to do anything more than bid two spades.

Note the difference in approach as compared with problem No. 2, where partner almost surely has six spades and did not bid a second suit.