BRIDGE

PLAYING Pairs, your partner opens 1♠ and West overcalls 2♣. What action would you take?

THIS is a difficult one for any partnership because it is a good test of judgment and there is no perfect answer. If you’re in need of ‘tops’, the attractive option is to make a penalty double. This will score better than your own game if you can take the contract two off.

The popular alternative will be whether to make a simple or a jump raise. Unless you can be fairly certain that opener has a five-card spade suit, I’d settle for the simple raise.

Despite 10HCPs, your hand has nine losers and only three-card trump support.