BRIDGE

Answers to weekly quiz:
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
xA 8 6 3 u9 6 5 3 v8 wA 10 6 2
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1u 3v ?
weak
What do you bid now?
A. It might seem that there is nothing to consider other than three hearts. The problem is that that sounds competitive when you really have a pretty good hand -- two aces and a singleton in the enemy suit along with four-card support for partner. In support of hearts your hand is worth 11-12 points, so jump to four hearts.
Q. Neither vulnerable, you hold:
xA 8 7 6 5 uA K Q J 7 v10 7 6 wVoid
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v 2w ?
What do you bid now?
A. There is a temptation to cue-bid three clubs -- curb it. That suggests diamond support and steals perhaps two levels of bidding that you might sorely need. Start with a simple two spades, which is forcing, then wait to see how the bidding develops.
Q. Both vulnerable, you hold:
xK J 6 5 u7 v10 3 wK J 7 6 4 2
Partner opens the bidding with one spade. What do you respond?
A. You have a hand with little or no defense but considerable offensive potential At this vulnerability, we like a full-blooded preemptive raise to four spades. Not only might you make this contract, but you are likely to keep the opponents out of the auction.
Q. Both vulnerable, you hold:
xA 10 6 2 uA K Q J vK Q 10 9 w5
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1v Pass 1u Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. This is a matter of style. If you employ splinter bids, a jump to four clubs describes your holding perfectly -- the values to bid four hearts with a club singleton. If you don't, you have to bid four hearts -- obviously, not as descriptive.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x2 uA Q 9 8 7 vK Q J 9 8 w9 7
The bidding had proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 1x 2w
?
What do you bid now?
A. You have a pretty useful two-suiter, but partner's response has done nothing for you. You have more than enough to bid again, but to even contemplate anything more than two diamonds would be highly questionable.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
xA 8 5 uA 7 6 4 vQ J 5 4 w7 3
Partner opens the bidding with a weak two spades. What action do you take?
A. You have no reason to expect to make four spades opposite a weak two opening bid. The only question is whether you should raise preemptively. You have reasonable defensive values and no reason to suspect that, should the opponents enter the auction they would be in a playable spot. Pass.
& copy; 2004, Tribune Media Services