Third Answer
You are South (3rd seat, favorable). Partner showed a balanced hand with 12-14 HCP.
How likely is it, that partner can make game in notrump? Here is one good way to approach that question: your hand has seven top losers (two in spades, three in hearts, and two in clubs), so a threshold requirement for making three notrump is that partner will have to eliminate at least three of those fast losers. Partner will also have to provide a second stopper in diamonds, plus something extra so that you can establish and cash spades (or, perhaps, clubs). Clearly, it’s quite unlikely that partner can provide all of that. However, in your dreams:
Partner Dream Hand 2: AK Q92 KQ2 10932
Your Hand: QJ953 J107 A6 QJ7
With that hand, partner would very likely take nine tricks in notrump. But that’s a very carefully selected 14 HCP, so what are the chances? Not very good, we think.
The full deal appears on the next page.