1S, Pass. 3S, Pass, Pass, Pass

North opens 1S with 13 points (12 honour points and one length point). East passes. South bids 3S showing 10 - 12 points and 4-card spade support. West passes. With minimum points North knows that game is unlikely so passes. (Declarer can make 5S + 2H + 2D = 9Tricks) making the contract of 2S.

 1H, Pass, 4H, Pass, Pass, Pass.

When South opens 1H, it is clear to North that they have a fit and should be playing in hearts. With an opening hand of 14 points North just bids 4H. How do you think declarer should play the hearts? As the cards lie a trick must be lost to the king, but if East had the king could we avoid losing a heart trick?

1H, Pass, 3H, Pass, 4H, Pass, Pass, Pass.

With 18 HCP's and two 4 card majors the correct opening bid is 1H. East has four hearts (the fit) and eight points and would normally raise to to 2H. But with a singleton club the hand can add two extra shortage points so is worth ten points and can bid 3H  (10-12points). West with a strong hand of 18 HCP and one extra shortage point happily bids 4H (Game).

1H, Pass, 1S, Pass, 2D, pass 2H, Pass, Pass, Pass.

With 13 points and a 5 card major North opens 1H. South cannot support hearts with only three but can show 6+ plus points, less than four hearts and four spades by bidding 1S. North carries on describing his hand by bidding his second longest suit - 2D. (This bid shows four diamonds and five hearts.) It also shows a weak hand within the 13 - 19 range. South who is not very strong choses the heart suit by bidding 2H and everybody passes. With a stronger hand South would have bid 3H or even 4H.

1C, Pass, 1H, Pass, 2H, Pass, Pass, Pass.

West is unbalanced with13 HCP a clear 1C opening bid. With two four card suits and 6+ points East responds in the cheapest one, so bids 1H. West raises with four hearts as they have found a major fit. But he only bids 2H as he has a minimum hand. It is up to East to bid higher if his hand is good. With only 7 HCP and one distribution point East chooses to pass. Despite the thin values, ten ricks can be made. South leads QD (top of a run).

Pass, Pass, 1H, Pass, 1NT, Pass, 2C, Pass, 2H, Pass, Pass, Pass.

East and South both pass with less than opening points. West has 14 HCP but is not balanced so opens 1H. East although he has passed must respond with 6+ points. He has not got enough points to bid a new suit at the 2 level so chooses to bid 1NT (The Dustbin Bid). West now bids his second suit 2C ( Showing 5 hearts and 4 clubs) and asking his partner to choose. East chooses the hearts by bidding 2H.

Pass,1D, Pass, 2C, Pass, 3NT, Pass, Pass, Pass,

West passes with only four points. North with 18 HCP opens 1D. East passes. South with 11 HCP changes the suit and bids 2C (denying a four card major). The partnerships longest suits are the minors and with no chance of a major fit North bids 3NT with good guards in the majors. 3NT easily makes with an overtrick once the ace of hearts has been forced out. The allternative contract of 5D is harder to make and scores less.

Pass, Pass, 1D, Pass, 1S, Pass, 4S, Pass, Pass, Pass. 

West and North pass with less than opening points. East opens 1D, his longest suit. West will respond with 6+ points so bids 1S. Now East should raise to 4S as he also has four spade (The fit) and 18 HCP plus two shortage points. Plenty to make the required 26 points required for a major game. Declarer must make sure he counts the trumps as he draws them as he needs to leave one trump in dummy to ruff a loosing club.