1. Double -  Double first, then bid Hearts to show a strong hand.
2. 3♦ - 8-card fit & not vulnerable. Goes 1-off for -50
3. 3♥ in alternative bidding sequence shown below - Although a first round double would still be for take-out East must have a good hand with a strong, long suit to bid a suit at this level.

Alternative bidding seqiuence:

Another hand with two possible bidding sequences that both end up in the same contract.

1. 1♠ - 14 HCP’s but two doubletons so can’t open 1NT.
2. Double  - Opening hand with four Hearts
3. East's 2♠ in first bidding sequence or 1NT in alternative sequence below - In favour of 2S is that South will need to go to the 3-level to respond to the double. Against 3S is that the hand is 4-3-3-3, so no ruffing values, making 1NT a good alternative. Give this hand a 4-4-3-2 shape with three Spades & now 2S is definitely the better bid.

Alternative bidding sequence:

Opening Lead: K♠ – Lead a trump when you think your opponent’s are going to ruff in dummy.

1.  1♦  -  With two separate 5-card suits bid the lower first.
2. East's first pass - Can’t double with 6 points. It’s too risky to make a WJO, you’re vulnerable & the opp’s are limitless, & you don’t want a Heart lead.
3. 3♣  - You have 4 Hearts, but with 7 Clubs there is no point in showing your Hearts. Although you only have 11 HCP’s you do have just four and a half losers and so are strong enough to jump to 3C
4. 3♠  - Two inferences to be taken from this bid, firstly partner doesn’t have a Heart suit & secondly he doesn’t want to play in 3NT.

1. 1♥ - Just because you have the points for 2NT doesn’t mean you have to bid it, if partner has nothing you’ll struggle to make it, & if partner does have points then you should reach game.
2. 1NT -  4-3-3-3, no ruffing values so don’t bid 2H
3. 3♣ - Strong & forcing, guarantees 5+ Hearts & generally 4 Clubs

Opening Lead: 5♣ 

1. 1♠  -  Not vulnerable, a good suit & void in Hearts.
2. 2♥  -  Only 4 points, but with some shape & four card support must make every effort to respond.

Opening Lead: K♠ 

1. 2♦ - Two Aces & a 6-card suit. Bidding & then playing in 1NT could be awful with a singleton Spade & potentially only 2 tricks in your hand.
2. Double - You may have a very good 5-card Spade suit, but double also shows you hold both of the unbid suits.
3. 3♠ - 8 LTC & 5 Spades, so bidding to the Level of the Fit, assuming that partner holds 4 Spades.

North is prepared to compete to 4S if necessary & 4S will go 1-off for -50 whilst 3H will make for -140.

1. 2♠ - This is a Reverse, but after partners 2C (9+ points) is worth it. A Reverse shows a 5-4 holding in the bid suits, but with a hand strong enough to be able to cope with partner showing suit preference for the first bid suit at the 3-level.
2. 2NT -  Following a Reverse after a 2-level response both partners know that they hold sufficient points to go to game & so the bidding can progress slowly. 2NT is a stronger reply than 3NT, as 3NT would show a hand with 9-10 points & a Diamond stop.
3. 3NT - Minimum points to Reverse.
4. 4NT - Not Blackwood but Quantitative. Pass if minimum but go on to a slam if maximum.

1. 1♥  -  With a 15 count & Clubs & Hearts open 1H. If you open 1♣  & partner bids 1♠  you can’t show the Heart suit & it could get lost.

Opening Lead: 7♣ - It is better to lead from a weak 5-card suit than a weak 3-card suit as the opposition are less likely to make a lot of tricks in the 5-card suit.

1. 1NT -  A weak 5-card major which you wouldn’t want to rebid, so open 1NT. Do so even if you also hold a weak doubleton.
2. 2♣  -  This bid is alertable as it doesn’t show Clubs. It is the ASTRO convention which can be used to show a two suited hand. The requirements are 5-4 & 10 points, or 5-5 & 9 points minimum. A future lesson will deal with 2-suited overcalls of 1NT..

1. 2♦  -  You do not need a 5-card suit to respond at the 2-level, but you do need 10+ points with a 4-card suit.
2. 3NT -  You have the same six Spade tricks in Spades or in NT.
3. 3♠ in alternative bidding sequence below - Forcing to game as partner has shown 10 points.
4. 3NT bid in alternative bidding sequence below - Don’t bid 3NT without a Heart stop.

Alternative bidding sequence: