1. Three hearts. Although you have only 13 high-card points, there is a reasonable chance of making 10 tricks, so you should not throw in the towel by passing. Also, for those optimists who see the world through rose-colored glasses, it would be wrong to leap straightaway to four hearts.

Whether you can make a game depends on the size and shape of partner’s two-heart bid. If you bid three hearts and he holds a maximum raise such as [S]Q4 [H]A853 [D]9643 [C]K72, he will gladly accept your invitation and carry on to four.

But if partner holds something like [S]K95 [H]Q863 [D]J82 [C]964, he will pass, and you might have trouble making even nine tricks.

Alternatively, you could bid two spades or three clubs (forcing) as a way of inviting game. The point is that you are not in position to decide unilaterally whether there’s a game in the combined hands, so you should enlist partner’s help.

2. Four notrump. Slam is a distinct possibility, and the best way to investigate it is via Blackwood. You plan to bid six hearts if partner shows one ace by bidding five diamonds. If partner’s ace is in the trump suit, you should have an excellent chance to make six; if it’s in spades, you might still have a shot at the slam.

Despite the fact that you might not make 12 tricks even if partner has an ace, you should go for the slam because, opposite most of the hands partner could hold, you’d be a favorite to make six.

3. Two spades. There is no question about making a game; the question is whether there’s a slam. Two spades (forcing) is the first move in that direction.

Partner does not necessarily need a maximum raise for a slam to be made. If he has no values in clubs, you probably do have a slam. Thus, partner could have only the king of spades and king of diamonds and a slam would be feasible.

Or partner could have [S]5 [H]QJ82 [D]K843 [C] 9762, and a slam would be virtually unbeatable. In any case, if partner cooperates in any way after your planned cuebids in spades and diamonds, you should undertake a slam.

Tomorrow: Search for a missing damsel.