Q. 1—Sitting South and dealing, with no one vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ Q 7
♥️ J 2
♦️ 7 5 3
♣️ A J 9 7 6 4

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

South          West           North          East
Pass             Pass           1♥️            Pass
1NT             Pass           2♦️           Pass
?

What do you bid?

A.—2♥️. You have a poor hand with no fit for partner. Take a preference for hearts over diamonds. A 5-2 fit is safer than a 4-3 fit. There’s less of a chance to lose control when trumps split 4-2. Moreover, keeping the bidding open gives partner the chance for a third bid with extra values. Partner may have been just short of a jump in diamonds.

Q. 2—Sitting South, with North dealing and both sides vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ A Q 10 5 2
♥️ 6 5
♦️ Q 7 6
♣️ 10 8 2

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

North        East       South          West
1♦️          2♣️         DBL            Pass
2♦️           Pass       ?

What do you bid?

A.—3♦️. You’re showing about 10 high-card points and three diamonds. In any case, it’s better to raise than pass to keep opponents out of the auction.

Q. 3—Sitting South and dealing, with no one vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ Q 9 5 4
♥️ Q 9 7 6
♦️ K 10 6 4
♣️ 5

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

South        West        North         East
Pass           Pass        1♣️           1♥️
?

What do you bid?

A.—It’s a close call between a negative double showing hearts and 1NT. I’d opt for the double because I’m nervous about having one card in partner’s bid suit. In addition, I’m showing both unbid suits. If partner can’t tolerate spades, there are diamonds to fall back on.

Q. 4—Sitting South and dealing, with East-West vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ A Q 5 3
♥️ 10 4 2
♦️ Q J 7 6 5
♣️ 7

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

South         West          North         East
Pass            Pass          1♥️           Pass
?

What do you bid?

A.—This is as good a time as any to introduce the Drury convention. When you’ve passed, and partner opens the bidding with one of a major in the third or fourth position and there’s no interference from opponents, there’s a way to show a limit raise without going to the three level. Bid 2♣️ to show three-card support or 2♦️ to show four-card support. Here partner opened in the third position and you have three-card support, so 2♣️ is your correct bid. Why not just bid 3♥️? That contract may be out of reach because partner might have opened weak in the third or fourth position.