bridge

August 9, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Answers to weekly quiz

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xK Q 3 uA 8 6 4 2 vK Q 6 5 4 wVoid

Your right-hand opponent opens the bidding with one diamond. What action do you take?

A. Simply bid one heart even though the suit quality leaves something to be desired.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xQ 5 2 uK 8 6 vA 7 4 3 wQ 10 6

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

A. If you play that a two-over-one response is forcing to game, you must start with one no trump, intending to jump to three spades next to show an invitational hand with only three-card support. If not, respond two diamonds, then raise spades next.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xA K 4 uQ J 9 2 vQ 6 5 wA 9 8

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

A. There is a textbook bid that perfectly describes your hand — a jump to 3 NT. It shows a balanced hand of 16-18 points with no ruffing value, hence a 4-3-3-3 pattern. One heart is a poor second choice.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

x8 u6 3 vQ 7 6 3 wA J 8 7 4 2

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

Pass4xDblPass

What action do you take?

A. First, we do not believe that partner’s double is primarily for penalties. Therefore, bidding five clubs is clear, since you might not be able to defeat four spades.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xA J uA K 7 6 3 vK J 8 wK J 5

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

A. Your hand can play in hearts, clubs or no trump. You will need room to probe for the right level and strain, so start with a simple one heart and see what develops.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xA J 7 uK 7 6 v9 6 wK Q 6 5 2

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

1wPass1u Pass

What do you bid now?

A. If you play that your methods require four-card support to raise partner’s one-level major-suit response, you are faced with a terrible choice: either one no trump without a diamond stopper, or two clubs on a so-so five-card suit. In our opinion, two hearts is a standout because of the good fragment and the ruffing value in diamonds.

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