Answers to weekly quiz

September 15, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xK 9 6 5 u10 9 6 3 v8 wK 10 6 5

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x Pass 2x Pass

3v Pass ?

What do you bid?

A. Partner’s three diamonds is a help-suit game try, asking you if you can help avoid diamond losers. You could hardly have a better hand for him. Bid four spades.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xK 9 6 5 uK Q 7 v9 8 3 wJ 10 6

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x Pass 2x Pass

3v Pass ?

What do you bid?

A. You have a maximum raise to two spades, but no help for partner, so you can’t accept his invitation. However, you can bid three hearts, showing heart values and a maximum raise. If that suits him, he can go on to game.

Q. As South vulnerable, you hold:

xQ 10 7 6 3 uA 10 8 7 vK 4 w6 3

Partner opens the bidding with one heart. What do you respond?

A. If you play limit raises, you have just enough to jump to three hearts; if not raise to two hearts and hope partner can act again.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

x9 8 7 3 u8 6 v10 9 5 2 w8 6 3

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1u Dbl 2NT Pass

4u Dbl Pass ?

What action do you take?

A. We pass, and ready our apologies in case we are wrong.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA K 6 uVoid vA K 10 9 6 3 wJ 10 9 6

Your left-hand opponent’s opening bid of three hearts is passed round to you. What action do you take?

A. Your hand is suitable for play in any of the thee unbid suits and there is just one way to get this across to partner — double, for takeout of course. What if partner should convert to penalties by passing? That might be the only plus score available to you.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xK 10 6 5 uQ 7 5 v9 4 3 wJ 6 2

The bidding has proceed:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 1x Pass

2u Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. Bid three diamonds.