Say the auction has begun (1 ♦ ) - Dbl - (1 ♥ ) - ? (as responder to the doubler). Right-hand opponent’s 1 ♥ has removed your necessity to bid - it has cancelled the double. But do not be reticent, especially if you have length in an unbid suit (especially spades, a major, and one that can be bid cheaply), with honours outside the opponents’ suits.

Be particularly bold in this fourth position when the opponents have bid and supported a suit, for if they have a fit, so (almost certainly) do you.

Notice that the third hand (below) passes despite holding more points than the first two. Can you think of reasons why?

Exercise: (1 ♥ ) - Dbl - (2 ♥ ) - ?

(a) It would have to bid (diamonds) at the three-level.

(b) It has a barren shape.

(c) The heart honours are more suited to defence (where they are almost bound to score a trick), than play (where they rate to have little value).

Take West's cards and defend this hand.