BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

Love All

YOUR partner opens 1♥ and RHO overcalls 1♠. Do you take any action? Would you have made a bid without the intervention? HOPEFULLY, you would have bid 2♥, not 1NT. Even playing four-card majors, it is better to show your heart fit rather than bid the alternative 1NT; reverse your major suits and 1NT would be preferable.

Partner will expect you to have four hearts, but this is still the most accurate description of your hand. Both are weak limit bids, so partner will be passing unless he is strong.

The fact that East has intervened should not affect your decision to support hearts, because you must let partner know that you have some values for him.

However, if your major suits were reversed, you should not bid 1NT over 1♠; the spade control is not good enough, nor are your other values; your best option is to pass and, if partner can’t bid again, you are probably better off in defence.