BRIDGE

Answers to weekly quiz:
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
xA K 9 8 4 uA Q J 6 v9 3 wQ 7
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 2x Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. Even though you cannot be sure your queen of clubs is a working card, you have enough to make a game try. Bid three hearts.
Q. Not vulnerable against vulnerable, as South you hold:
xA Q 8 7 5 2 u7 v9 3 wK Q 9 5
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 2x Pass
?
What action do you take?
A. You have no convenient game try, so we would bid three spades whether you play that as preemptive or invitational!
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
xA J 7 6 u9 8 vA Q 7 wA K J 5
Partner opens the bidding with one spade. What do you bid now?
A. There is only one way to show the strength of this hand -- jump to three clubs. Even with modern methods, this meets the criterion of a strong hand with good support for partner's suit.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x9 5 4 uA 3 vA K 7 5 wK 10 7 4
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1x Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. Whether to bid two spades or one no trump is a close decision. However, a raise of partner's suit is always more encouraging than one no trump so, despite your stoppers in each of the other three suits, we would raise to two spades with our all-prime hand and ruffing value.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
xK 7 uA 9 5 vA 7 3 wK 10 7 6 2
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1NT Pass
?
What action do you take?
A. If you are still among the few who play that a one-no-trump response to a one-club opening shows 9-11 points, by all means raise to two no trump.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
xA Q J 7 uK 7 vA Q J 6 wJ 9 4
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1v Pass 1x Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. If you raised to two spades, you are the kind who wears a belt and suspenders. If you jumped to four spades, you show a reckless disregard for coin of the realm. If you raised to three spades, our choice, you have politely invited partner to bid game with a better than minimum response.
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services