A nice psych bid

North	East	South	West
Pass	Pass	1	1
2	Pass	Pass	Pass

Vulnerable: E-W

North

 Q 3 2

 7 4 3

 K 7 5

 A Q 7 3

West

 A K J 8 5

 A J 10

 Q 4 2

 J 6

East

 10

 K Q 8 6 2

 A J 6 3

 8 4 2

South

 9 7 6 4

 9 5

 10 9 8

 K 10 9 5

Sitting South, with 3 points and a sense of foreboding, I made a rude and risky fake-out bid, very successfully derailing the opponents. Partner and I were set two tricks in our nonvulnerable 2C contract; the E-W pairs at several other tables made 6H, often with an overtrick. Would I do it again? I'm not telling.

First-round responses

I deal and open 1H. The opponent passes. Here are the possible responses you can make, and what they mean to me:

Pass You have fewer than 6 points, no heart length to speak of, and don't think we can construct a worthwhile contract, even though I might have 18 points.

1S You have five spades or four excellent spades. I will bid again; every new suit named by responder is forcing for one round. Probably you have fewer than 10 points and don't have three hearts; at least, that'll be my assumption until your rebid.

1NT You have less than ten points and fewer than three hearts. You might have balanced distribution, or you might have length in a minor suit that you're too weak to mention.

2C You have 10 or more points. The surface meaning of this bid is that you have fewer than three hearts and prefer clubs, but you might have more hearts and make this bid as a coy way of showing your point count, since a simple raise in hearts would imply fewer than 10 points. You'll mention your hearts later.

2D You have 10 or more points. The surface meaning of this bid is that you have fewer than three hearts and prefer diamonds, but you might have more hearts and make this bid as a coy way of showing your point count, since a simple raise in hearts would imply fewer than 10 points. You'll mention your hearts later.

2H You have three hearts and fewer than 10 points. I will probably pass unless there's something cool in my hand I haven't told you about.

2S A jump bid showing possible power for slam. Probably you have 16+ points and 6+ spades. Forcing to game.

2NT Jacoby 2NT, showing 12+ points and four-card trump support. We'll almost surely play a hearts contract; let's figure out if it should be a game or a slam.

3C A jump bid showing possible power for slam. Probably you have 16+ points and 6+ clubs. Forcing to game.

3D A jump bid showing possible power for slam. Probably you have 16+ points and 6+ diamonds. Forcing to game.

3H An encouraging bid, showing more than 3 hearts and less than opening points.

3S A splinter bid, showing strength, trump support, and a singleton or void in spades. Looking for slam.

3NT Intended as the final contract; denying possibility of slam. Shows a balanced hand, with two hearts and 16+ points.

4C A splinter bid, showing strength, trump support, and a singleton or void in clubs. Looking for slam.

4D A splinter bid, showing strength, trump support, and a singleton or void in diamonds. Looking for slam.

4H Intended as the final contract; denying desire for slam.

4S I don't know -- maybe a splinter showing a spade void (not singleton), or sufficient spade power for an instant game in that suit.

4NT Blackwood, supporting hearts and looking for slam.

5NT "Grand slam force," asking me to bid 7H if I have two of the three top heart honors; you have winners everywhere else.

Suit bids higher than that are probably showing extreme length or bravado.

Please comment. These meanings are ripe for tweaking, especially the jump responses.