Bidding Quiz: Responding to a Take-out Double Part II by David

A: 2♠. You offer spades as trumps, choosing spades rather than diamonds because it is a major suit. Since you might have to respond 1♠ with hardly any points at all, you should bid 2♠ on about 8-10 points.

This jump is non-forcing, but it will allow your partner to judge whether he should Pass or head towards game.

Your result so far:

A: 2♣. To pass, because you have no good suit to bid, would be a beginner's mistake. Your partner is likely to be short in spades and the contract is very likely to make - perhaps with overtricks. Nor would 1NT be a good idea. You have no spade stopper and only 4 HCP.

Like it or not, you will have to bid 2♣. It is not your fault that you do not hold a 4-card suit to bid, nor that you are so weak. 2♣ promises nothing by way of strength. Your partner has forced you to say something, however weak you are.

Your result so far:

A: 2♥. When you hold a hand that is too strong for a single-jump response (around 8-10 HCP, or 8-11 in a minor suit), you should respond with a cue-bid in the opener's suit. You will then have the space to find your best fit.

Here, for example, partner might hold four diamonds and four spades.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦. With 10 HCP and a 5-card suit, you are worth a single-jump response. Remember that you might have to respond 2♦ when you have a worthless hand of this shape. You cannot make the same response on 0 points and 10 points.

Your result so far:

A: 2NT. Your trumps are nowhere near as good as they need to be for a Pass now. The most likely game is 3NT and you should therefore prefer a 2NT response to 3♦.

Your result so far: