1. Four spades. Once partner responds with one spade, game must be reached. Only an avowed pessimist would think that the combined hands might not provide a satisfactory play for 10 tricks. Whether the basis for this evaluation is point count — you have 18 high-card points plus two doubletons — or simply that it is not likely that you could lose four tricks, game must be undertaken.

A raise to three spades would be wrong, as this would merely invite partner to go on.

2. One notrump. This tells partner that you have a minimum opening bid with balanced distribution, which is exactly what you have.

3. Two clubs. Hands with 5-4-2-2 distribution usually play better in a suit, so you should show your second suit rather than rebid one notrump. Although the two-club rebid is not forcing, and might even be made with a minimum hand, it can be more than a minimum and is therefore to be preferred to one notrump, which is a limited rebid. This hand should not be treated as though it were a weak opening bid.

4. Three hearts. Your additional values above a minimum opening bid can be shown by jumping to three hearts, indicating 16 to 18 points and a six-card or longer suit. Partner is not required to bid again and may pass with six or seven points.

It is important to recognize that this 15-high-card-point hand is worth substantially more because of the length and strength of the heart suit and because partner’s spade response helps cover your weakest suit. But it is not worth more than a three-heart bid because game is not likely opposite a very weak hand.

5. Three notrump. You should assume that partner has at least six points for his one-spade response. Since this brings the combined point count to at least 26, a game contract must be undertaken. The only question is how best to tell partner about the size and shape of your hand.

The jump-rebid to three notrump fills the bill perfectly. It indicates balanced distribution, about 20 points and strength in the unbid suits. It lays the foundation for a slam if partner has the type of hand that could produce a slam opposite this one.

Tomorrow: The visualization factor.