When responding in a choice of four card suits, you should technically bid the cheaper one - going “up the ladder”. But this week’s responder sensibly broke the rule and so achieved a spectacularly good result on the hand. Here it is:

 South did not fancy responding in the cheaper four card suit - ♣s (see Tip). Had he done so, then the partnership might easily have declared 5♣ or 6♣ with disastrous consequences. After his 2♦ response, North gave jump support - his hand improving with the ♦ fit and the useful singleton ♠. South, who had fallen in love with his ♥K - honours in partner’s suits are always worth more than their point value - jumped to 6♦ and West led ♣5.

South won ♣A, played ♠6 to ♠A and trumped ♠8 with ♦3. He crossed to ♥K and trumped ♠9 with ♦6. He cashed dummy’s ♦Q, crossed to his ♦J, cashed ♦K drawing the last opposing trump, then led ♥8 to dummy’s ♥AQJ. Away went two of his three losing ♣s and twelve tricks were his.

ANDREW’S TIP: Do not bid bad suits on good hands.