1. Six clubs. Partner’s four-notrump bid is the equivalent of a strong takeout double, so you should assume that he has adequate trump support for at least two suits.

When he next bids five spades, you should assume that he is void of spades and that diamonds is not one of his suits, as otherwise he would either pass five diamonds or bid six diamonds if his hand was strong enough. It follows that partner wants you to choose between the two remaining suits, hearts and clubs, so you should accommodate him by bidding six clubs. He might have any of the following hands to justify his bidding:

[S] — [H] AKQ83 [D] A5 [C] AKJ972

[S] — [H] KQJ95 [D] AK4 [C] AKJ85

[S] — [H] AKQ752 [D] AJ [C] AK986

2. Three diamonds. The presumption is that partner is not keen about notrump and is suggesting that the hand be played in a minor-suit game or slam. There is no good reason to suppress your diamond support at this point, so you should now bid three diamonds. Partner might have any of these hands:

[S] K3 [H] 7 [D] KQ8652 [C] KJ84

[S] — [H] Q85 [D] K9843 [C] KQ742

[S] K975 [H] 4 [D] KQ64 [C] KQ84

in which case the best contract would be a minor-suit slam.

3. Three hearts. Despite partner’s previous pass, you have a good chance for game, and you should pursue it by bidding three hearts. True, you have only two-card trump support, but that should not stop you from raising partner, who is sure to have either six or seven hearts or five very good ones. Partner might have any of these hands:

[S] J6 [H] QJ8752 [D] AJ4 [C] 93

[S] A9 [H] A876432 [D] 85 [C] J4

[S] 83 [H] AQJ84 [D] QJ9 [C] 532

and you belong in four hearts with each of them.

Tomorrow: Never give up.