What bids are available to you, and which one would you choose? 

Well, this is a bit of a dilemma isn't it? Let's consider some of the options:

1) 3♦ - we have much too strong a hand for this, and can't risk partner passing 3♦ and missing an easy game

2) 4♦ (or 5♦) - at least these ensure that we get to game but we may have missed the higher-scoring 3NT, and partner may find it difficult to investigate a slam.

3) 2♣ - this has the advantage of being forcing, but is unappealing with a holding of just ♣ QJ

4) 3NT- a reasonable practical attempt to reach the most likely game. Although our ♣ holding is far from ideal, partner's points must be somewhere, and ♣ 10 3 2 would give us a a stopper anyway.

5) 1♥  or 1♠ - always some danger to bidding a 'non-existent' major, but again, at least a forcing bid, and we can get back to diamonds later (we hope!)

So the options appear to be 1♥ , 1♠ , 3NT, 2♣ , and 4♦.

The challenge is to rank these options in order of preference, and if it matches the judge's, you will win a prize. Send your entries to me at grahamcox1954@yahoo.co.uk The full hand and suggested auction will appear in the next installment.