BRIDGE

Answers to weekly quiz
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x K Q 4 u A 10 9 6 4 2 v A J w K 8
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTHEASTSOUTHWEST
1vPass1uPass
2vPass?
What do you bid now?
A. In the good old days, you had no problem -- a jump to three hearts now would be forcing. These days, three hearts is only invitational, so you must invent a forcing sequence. Bid two spades -- the new suit is forcing. Don't worry about a spade raise -- partner does not have four spades. With four spades, partner would have rebid one spade rather than two diamonds.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A 9 4 u 10 6 5 2 v 7 5 w Q J 10 8
The bidding has proceeded:
WESTNORTHEASTSOUTH
1x2v2x?
What action do you take?
A. Even if you have responsive doubles in your arsenal, be wary of using that here -- the fact that partner did not make a takeout double suggests he might not have four hearts. Because you do not have enough diamond support to offer a safe haven at the three-level, your wisest course is to choose the conservative pass and let the auction develop.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x Q u A K Q 5 2 v Q 8 5 w J 7 4 3
The bidding has proceeded:
WESTNORTHEASTSOUTH
1wPass1u?
What action do you take?
A. You have been fixed. The opponents have bid your two long suits, and you know partner cannot have much. Any action by you would be fraught with danger. Pass.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x K 8 7 3 u K 4 v 9 8 3 w K 10 4 2
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST
PassPass1xPass
?
What do you bid now?
A. Although this is only a nine-point hand, the fourth trump with a ruffing value and prime points (three kings) is quite useful. The question is how many spades to bid. Two spades would be conservative; four spades is aggressive -- North might have opened light in third position. A jump to three spades describes the values nicely.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A K Q J 9 u 8 7 v Q 9 6 3 2 w 10
The bidding has proceeded:
WESTNORTHEASTSOUTH
1wPass1u?
What action do you take?
A. With two five-card suits, it is tempting to describe your hand with a takeout double. However, there is such a discrepancy between the quality of the two suits that we would opt for an overcall of one spade and await developments.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x A K 10 8 5 u A v K 6 4 w A 10 3 2
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTHEASTSOUTHWEST
PassPass1x3u*
PassPass?
*weak
What action do you take?
A. With your powerful hand, you want partner to describe his holding. Start with a double. Because partner has not yet bid, this is for takeout, not penalty. Should partner decide to pass based on his heart holding, expect a bonanza.
& copy; 2003, Tribune Media Services