answering partner's plea

Some hands are just plain hard to bid, with no clear-cut correct answer. That is partly why bridge is such a fascinating game.

The opponents are vulnerable, you are North, and the auction gets crowded. I'll show you your hand in a moment...

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	2 ♦	2 ♥
3 ♦	3 ♠	Pass	4 ♦
Pass	??

ANSWER: Clearly you must bid. Partner's 4 ♦ bid can't possibly be to play, since the opponents bid and raised diamonds. And, of course, a new suit by an unpassed hand is forcing.

It's not clear whether partner is fishing for heart support, or has slam interest in one of your black suits, or is fishing for a diamond stopper, or wants to find out which black suit is the least-worst option. Maybe several of those cases apply! Your objective here is to clarify as much as you can, without repeating what you've already told her about your hand. Don't tell the same story twice!.

So, what do you know about partner's hand?

• Partner has at least five good hearts, and at least 10 points, for her 2 ♥ bid.
• Partner is unwilling to pass 3 ♠ or simply sign off somewhere (3 NT, 4 ♣, 4 ♥, 4 ♠, or 5 ♣), so she likely has more than the minimum for her 2 ♥ bid.
• Partner is not just interested in how many aces you have, else she would have bid 4 NT Blackwood.

What does partner already know about your hand?

• You have a very good hand with game-going values (at least 16 points), because you bid 3 ♠ freely rather than just passing over 3 ♦.
• You don't have a 1 NT opener or a 2 NT opener; your hand is probably unbalanced.
• You probably don't have three hearts, because you didn't raise hearts right away.
• You have at least four spades and longer clubs; otherwise you would have bid spades first.

Here are some hands that you might hold in this auction.

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	2 ♦	2 ♥
3 ♦	3 ♠	Pass	4 ♦
Pass	??

♠ A Q x x ♥ K x ♦ x x ♣ A K J 10 x
Bid 4♥. Partner already knows you don't have three hearts.

♠ A Q x x x ♥ x x ♦ -- ♣ A K J 10 x x
Bid 4♠ promising a five-card suit, and therefore at least six clubs.

♠ A Q x x ♥ x ♦ A x ♣ A K J 10 x x
Bid 5♣, denying a five-card spade suit, and suggesting six clubs.

♠ A Q x x ♥ x x ♦ K x ♣ A K J 10 x
Bid 4 NT to play?? Don't you wish you had bid 3 NT at your previous turn?

♠ A K J x ♥ Q x ♦ x x x ♣ A K Q x
Bid 4♥. This hand (18-19 balanced) is the exception where your clubs are not longer than your spades. Partner already knows you don't have three hearts.

In ambiguous situations like this, take a moment to review the auction. What do you know about partner's hand? What does partner already know about your hand? What does partner not know about your hand? Partner is sending us a plea for help; how can you best clarify your hand for her?