3) What will you bid?

4) What will you bid?

Partner shows 7-10 points and 4 card support in Hearts. Even though you’ve slightly more than minimum points, your hand isn’t great and by bidding 3♥ you’re letting partner know. Partner will likely pass. The hands could be:

5) What will you bid?

Partner’s showing 7-10 points and 4 card support in Hearts. This time your distributional hand is worth trying for game. The hands could be:

You can see that even though you only have 20 points together, 10 tricks can be achieved, losing Club, Diamond and Spade.

6) What will you bid?

7) What will you bid?

8) What will you bid?

Note that 1NT by the advancer needs 9-12 points as partner could have 9 points (whereas you could bid 1NT as responder, if partner was opener and promised 12+ points). Also note, that there is no risk of missing game as partner is limited to a maximum of 16 points for their overcall (with more they would've doubled 1st and later bid their suit, to show a big double hand). If you do bid 1NT, partner might raise to 3NT with 16 points (see hand 7), thinking you’ve at least 9 points. Also, if partner has a minimum overcall, good opponents can "smell" your weakness and misfit and double you, which can be costly:

Playing 1NT here, then getting doubled isn’t going to make you happy!

Correct Answer: 1NT

This time your bid as an advancer is 1NT, showing 9-12 points (while as a responder you would have bid 2NT on partner's opening). Note that even if partner has 9 points, thus resulting in 20 points combined makes 1NT a good contract. If partner has 15-16 points – they will likely bid 3NT now (if they have only 5 cards in Spades and no other suit to offer). With 13-14 points they will likely invite you with 2NT and you will consider whether to raise to 3NT with your 11 points (and Pass if you had 9-10).

2NT here as an advancer shows 13-14(15) points (while as a responder you would have bid 3NT on partner's opening). Note that even if partner has 9 points, giving 22 points combined makes 2NT a good contract. If partner has 12-16 points – they’ll likely bid 3NT now (if they have only 5 cards Spades and no other suit to offer).

Similar values (13 points) as with the previous hand, but this time partner overcalled at the 2 level, showing 12-16 points. You’ve 25 points together (if partner has minimum points) so bid 3NT, given you’ve a balanced hand and Diamond stoppers.

Partner shows a minimum overcall with their 2♥ rebid. It’s best to pass. The hand could be:

You’re nowhere near game with 5 losers on top.

3♠ is a weak bid, showing a maximum of 6 points. Vulnerability comes into this too. If you’re Not vulnerable and opponents are you can "go wild". Whereas, if you’re vulnerable and opponents aren’t, you have to be much more conservative. A 3♠ bid puts pressure on opponents and makes their job harder as they need to decide whether to bid at the 4 (or other) level or not. Note! If partner has minimum points and the 3♠ bid goes down – it won’t be too costly as opponents clearly have game values (about 25-26 points together). Also note, that if your hand was slightly stronger (7-10 points), then your bid would be 3♦ (a mixed raise), showing 7-10 points and a 4 card fit. Partner would then bid 3♠ with minimum points or bid higher with more.

Correct Answer: 4♠

Same idea as before, but with 10 trumps combined you should go straight to 4♠ to put even more pressure on opponents, who clearly have a fit of their own and now need to decide whether to go to the 5 level or not. Again, if you’re vulnerable and opponents aren’t, consider bidding 3♠ here; as if a 4♠ bid went 2 down (doubled) it will be too costly. But on any other vulnerability you can bid 4♠.
The hands could be:

You can see that although partner overcalled with minimum points, 4♠ is only going 1 down. Opponents might opt to double 4♠ while they have a cold 5♣/♦, losing a Spade and a Heart. They might even make 6♣/♦ if one of your opponents has a void in Spades, and thus only losing a single Heart trick.