BRIDGE

Answers to weekly quiz:
Q. Not vulnerable against vulnerable, you hold:
xA K J 10 6 uK 9 6 4 vQ 8 3 wK
Your right-hand opponent opens the bidding with one heart. What action do you take?
A. If you have an urge to overcall with an off-shape one no trump, suppress it. The same goes for a takeout double -- your hand is not good enough to double and then bid spades over partner's likely minor-suit response. You have a sound one-spade overcalls to make it.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
xA Q 10 uK J 2 vK J 6 3 wJ 10 5
Your right-hand opponent opens the bidding with one club. What action do you take?
A. You are too good to pass. However, we don't like a one-no-trump overcall soulmated without a stopper in opener's suit. That leaves a takeout double on a hand with only three cards in each major, although the fragments are pretty good.
Q. Neither vulnerable, you hold:
xJ 8 7 4 uJ 10 6 2 v10 6 4 wQ 6
Partner opens the bidding with one club. What action do you take?
A. Not vulnerable is not synonymous with invulnerable. You have little to contribute on either offense or defense, and any action more than likely will get you into hot water. Pass.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
xA K 5 2 u9 4 2 vJ 9 3 wQ J 5
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1u 2w ?
What do you bid now?
A. If you play negative doubles, by all means take that action. Should partner rebid two diamonds, correct to two hearts. If partner rebids two hearts or two spades, raise to three in whichever suit partner bids. If you don't play negative doubles, all you can do is bid two hearts.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
xJ 7 4 u9 8 5 3 vK 8 wK J 10 3
The bidding has proceeded:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1w Dbl 1NT ?
What action do you take?
A. Partner's takeout double is a probe for a major suit. You have a preference for hearts and fair values, so there is no reason why you should not tell partner about it. Bid two hearts.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
xK uJ 10 8 5 2 vK Q J wA 10 9 5
The bidding has proceeded:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Pass Pass 3x ?
What action do you take?
A. Your first reaction might be that you do not have enough to compete at this level. However, partner might have a reasonably good hand with some length in the enemy suit, and so pass. We would make a takeout double. Partner should bear in mind that you are acting under pressure of the preempt.
& copy; 2004 Tribune Media Services Inc.