North
1[diamond]
?
South
1[heart]
I opened 1[diamond], my partner bid 1[heart] and my RHO passed. I hold:
[spade]4 [heart]AQ7 [diamond]AQJ93 [club]KJ73
What should I bid? Should I raise hearts?
Bid 2[club]. This hand has the potential to be a fabulous hand….especially if partner has five hearts. 2[club] shows at least nine cards in the minor suits and 12-17 HCPs. 1[diamond] only promises 3 cards, but when followed by a 2[club] bid the holding must be 5[diamond] and 4[club] or opener would have opened with clubs.
I am planning on my third bid being hearts if Responder makes any bid except 3NT.
Bidding hearts would promise three-cards in hearts. Bidding diamonds, clubs and then hearts is called ‘bidding out your pattern’. This bidding would show 1-3-5-4 or 0-3-5-5 or 0-3-6-4.
Being willing to bid at a high level also shows more than a minimum hand around 15-17 HCPs.