Good bad hands

Don’t despair when you pick up a bad hand. It could get better. Here’s what to look for:

• a)    A fit with partner.
• b)    Good shape eg a singleton
• c)    Honours (those honours you have) in partner’s suits.

You are South and the bidding proceeds (North dealer):
 

Here are two possible hands for you:
 

 
With South (a), you have a heart fit and your two queens are in partner’s long suits – golden honours. Don’t pass, raise to 4♥.

With South (b), you now know for sure you have a spade fit and ♠J10 are worth much more than one point. Plus your ♥Kx is gold-dust. Don’t merely give a preference to 3♠ (which you’d do with small doubletons in both majors); jump to 4♠.