BRIDGE

Answers to weekly quiz:
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
x-Q 9 8 7 3 u-A J 6 5 v-A 10 8 6 w-Void
Your right-hand opponent opens the bidding with one club in third seat. What action do you take?
A. You're perfectly placed for a takeout double -- support for all three unbid suits, two defensive tricks and a measure of safety because your left-hand opponent is a passed hand. If you simply overcall, you could risk missing a superior contract in one of the other suits.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x-J 6 4 u-K 6 5 4 v-A Q 9 2 w-Q 10
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1u 2w ?
What action do you take?
A. These days, a jump raise in competition is pre-emptive, so three hearts is ruled out. Despite the doubtful value of the queen of clubs, your hand is worth a limit raise in support of hearts, so make a cue-bid of three clubs. If partner can do no better than bid three hearts, pass.
Q. Neither vulnerable, you hold:
x-K Q 10 7 5 u-Q 8 v-A Q 10 7 2 w-A
Partner opens the bidding with one club. What do you respond?
A. First, this hand does not meet either criterion for a jump shift -- no self-sufficient suit, no fit for partner. Had you held two four-card suits, you would bid the cheaper suit first. With five-card suits, however, start with the higher-ranking first. Bid one spade.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x-10 7 2 u-Q 8 v-Q J 9 7 5 4 3 w-A
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1x Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. There are two ways to treat this hand: bid one no trump and then bid diamonds next; or bid two diamonds and rebid three diamonds. Since the latter suggests a slightly better hand, it is our preferred method. Bid two diamonds.
Q. Both vulnerable, you hold:
x-K J 10 2 u-9 7 3 v-A 9 8 4 w-Q 2
Partner opens the bidding with one spade. What do you respond?
A. Use whatever means you have to show an invitational raise of partner's suit, be it an immediate jump to three spades or a bid of two diamonds to be followed by a spade raise. The hand is a whisker short of a forcing rise.
Q. Both vulnerable, you hold:
x-10 6 5 u-7 6 3 v-A K 7 3 w-A Q 5
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
Pass Pass 1v Pass
1x Pass ?
What action do you take?
A. You have a square hand (4-3-3-3) without a high honor in partner's suit. We cannot imagine your taking enough tricks for game opposite a passed hand that could make no better try than a simple response. Pass.
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services