By opening, say 3 ♥, partner has shown a good seven-card suit but at most about 10 points. The simple rule is Put up or Shut up. Either put partner up (to 4 ♥) or shut up. And probably, bearing in mind that partner is weak and is bidding primarily to disrupt matters for the opponents and not expecting to make their bid, shut up.

Exercise: The bidding goes (1 ♣) - 3 ♥ - (3 ♠) - ? Partner’s bid of 3 ♥ is preemptive because it is a double jump – missing out two lower levels of the suit. What do you bid with:

Answers:

(i). Pass. Don’t even think of bidding 4 ♦. Or anything else. Partner’s bid is seemingly having the desired effect – pushing the opponents overboard. 3 ♠ is a forcing bid, so they will carry on. You will shortly unleash a potentially lucrative penalty double with your fine defensive collection.

(ii). 4 ♥. Not 4 ♦. Your partner’s hearts will be appreciably better than your diamonds (you’d expect ♥ AQ109xxx) and your hearts are likely far better than your partner’s diamonds (don’t expect more than a small singleton opposite). With ♠ A and a singleton club, your hand is really good for partner in hearts.

(iii). 4 ♥. Yes – really – with just three points. You have zero defence to the opponents’ contracts and partner has announced similarly little defence. Make life more awkward. Nonvulnerable, you might even bid 5 ♥!

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