Hand of the week - 24th July 2026

W is dealer and opens 2S. N passes. Your immediate reaction is that your partner opened weak and you have a good hand.

Let’s analyse what you know before you make your decision, usually with a weak 2 your partner will have 7 or 8 hcp, so let’s add them to your 19 hcp, total about 26 or 27, enough for a game contract, but which one.

The opps have about 13 or 14 hcp, but where are they.

From your hand starting with H, they could have K, J, 4 hcp. D you are missing A, Q, J, 7 hcp. That’s only 11.

They must have some more somewhere.

It is unusual for a weak opener having AKQ, so maybe they have a honour in S. Even so you have 6/2 fit in S. If partner can win 5 S tricks, you have a guaranteed 4 tricks, AH, AKQ C, 9 tricks, partner only has to make one more to make 4S. Do you bid 4S.

Lets look at NT, you have control of H and C.  You hold 3 D and maybe partner has 2 or 3 D, which gives opps 7 or 8 D. Can you hold D if they lead through your hand, probably not.

Decision made simple, bid 4S.

A popular from E was 5H, which probably means they don’t have 4 D. What could they be showing K or J. Another decision to make. Trying to set up J in an off suit, in a suit contract is very difficult, probably K. Play Q

Contract makes in 4S but not 3NT as lead comes have your Left from the 5 card D suit. Down one.

Did you make the right decisions.