After a Transfer, a new suit (ie 3♦) is forcing to game. 4♦  agrees the suit, and the rest are Cue Bids. Note, since North did not bid 4♠ over 4♥ ,then the 5♠  bid is second round control (the King, not the Ace). 5NT is called ‘Josephine’, and asks Partner to bid 6 of the trump suit with 0/1 top honours, and to bid 7 of the trump suit with 2 top honours. To discuss!

Correct opening bid of 1♥  with a 4-4-4-1 hand. 2♠  is 4^th suit forcing. Made on this hand because West might be too strong just to bid 3NT (the alternative bid).The raise of 2♠  (4^th Suit) to 3♠  should show a hand that is 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0. This means that we do not lose the 4-4 spade fit, and can play in the correct contract. Nevertheless, as the cards lie, 6♠  is a good contract.

West uses Landy on a hand with 5-4 in the majors. They could be quite strong for that bid, so East makes a constructive (as opposed to pre-emptive) raise to 3♠ . West accepts with a 5-4 spade fit, and only 6 losers.

South should possibly bid 1♥, although this is a difficult hand to bid. North bids the enemy suit here, (Not to see whether South has a spade suit, South has probably denied Spades, i.e. - no Take out double) to show game intentions. South could bid 3 NT, but it is better that North plays the hand. 3♦ is bid, and North happily bids 3NT. East must avoid a diamond lead, to avoid giving overtricks.

West has only 5 losers for their opening 1♥  bid. They should therefore see how strong East is for the 2♥  raise, and more importantly, determine whether East can offer any help in the
spade suit. Thus, the Trial bid (or Game Try) of 2♠. Equally, 3♣ or 3♦ would also be Game Tries. East accepts the Game Try – with a singleton spade, and the ♣ Ace.

West has 7 losers. Opposite Partner’s probable 7 losers, it is correct to jump to game. Notice that there is no defence to 4♠, even though the points are split 20-20.

South must try to find a safe lead, lest Declarer is allowed to make 11 tricks. It is suggested that the ♣10  (top of an internal sequence) is selected.

Difficult to know how high to bid on this one. West is too good to just bid 2♥, and should prefer a double. If 4♥ is a Splinter, then North should bid it. East shows 4 hearts with a double. South bids 4♠ (a better hand than a Pass). North will possibly jump to 6♠ to complete an exciting auction. If West doesn’t cash the ♣Ace, Declarer will make 13 tricks, setting up the 6^th Diamond for a 3^rd club discard.

East will bid Stayman, find a heart fit, and then be interested in a slam. Those of you that use Gerber, should only use a 4♣ Gerber bid directly over 1NT.

I suggest, once Partner has shown a major in response to Stayman, that 4NT should be your favourite version of Blackwood. Here, 5♠ = 2 Aces (including King of trumps as an Ace) plus the Queen of trumps. East is happy with 6♥.

Against the final contract, South cashes the A, K and Q of hearts, and switches to the 10 of clubs. We see that 3NT would always make 9 tricks, so long as the hearts break 4-3. Do we play off the Ace and King of Spades?

North makes a try for game, with a 3S raise, and South obliges. 10 tricks are available, so long as you take a heart finesse, and play towards diamond honours twice. Win Ace of clubs, spade to the 10, diamond to the King, give up a spade to the Ace. Win the King of clubs; draw trumps, take a heart finesse, and play another diamond to the Queen.

East bids a 4^th Suit forcing bid of 2♥. If West support the 4^th Suit by bidding 3♥ , then this should show a 4 card suit. East completes the bidding by raising the hearts to the 4 level. 1 more trick available in hearts, than No Trumps. Also refer back to Hand 2

The 3♥  bid should show a very strong hand, and is forcing to game. There follows cue bids. (Note 4♥  is not necessarily weak, just a waiting bid); 4NT asks, and 5♣  shows 3. North settles for 6♥.