0-----------------8 9-------------12 13----------------
at lowest level with a jump at game level

Prefer a major to a minor, and only rarely bid notrumps (typically with at least two stoppers e.g. KJ102, AK96, QJ107).

Question: What do I do with a good responding hand (to partner’s double) that does not know which game to bid?

Answer (for the more experienced): bid opener’s suit, to create a game-force, and ask for more information. E.g: (1 ♦ )-Dbl-(P)-? Bid 2♦ with the following:

4 ♠ was no cinch after East overtook West’s ten of diamonds lead with the jack and followed with the ace and king. If declarer ruffs high, the defence must score a trump trick as well as the third-round of hearts. If he ruffs low, West can overruff and score a late heart. Can you spot the solution?

Declarer has a certain heart to lose - so why not lose it now? The only winning manoeuvre at this point is to use Loser-on-Loser technique and discard a heart (key play). West now has to discard - fatally - from either of his holdings in hearts or clubs (“discarding” a trump is no use).

Declarer can win any return from East(overruffing in dummy if East persists with a fourth diamond and West ruffs), draw trumps, then set up the fourth round of the suit West discarded, by ruffing the third round. Elegant!