BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

Your partner deals and opens 1NT

(12-14 points). What do you bid?

This hand is worth a simple straightforward forcing bid of 3 ♠ . This tells partner that at least a game contract must be reached, and that you would prefer to play in a suit because a shortage or weakness in your hand makes it unsuitable for no trumps.

Your partner will raise to 4 ♠ with three- card support, or convert to 3NT if your bid has struck his own weakest suit. There is, however, another course of action he could take — see tomorrow.