bridge

June 28, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Answers to weekly quiz:

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x8 u10 6 4 vA K 10 9 6 wJ 6 5 2

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1u 1x Dbl* ?

*Penalties

What action do you take?

A. Pass, and see what develops.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x9 4 u8 7 4 vQ J 10 9 6 2 w8 3

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1u 1x Dbl* ?

*Penalties

What action do you take?

A. Here, you have no help for partner and a suit that will produce two tricks on its own merits. By all means run to two diamonds.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xQ 10 7 u8 vK Q J 8 3 wA Q J 7

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1x Pass 2x ?

What action do you take?

A. You probably have the best hand at the table, but the auction has developed awkwardly. Bid two no trump. That cannot be natural, so it is clearly a minor-suit takeout.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA K 5 uA K 7 3 vA 5 2 wQ 5 2

What is your opening bid?

A. If there is such a thing as a bad 20 points, this is it! Despite holding half the points in the deck, you have a hand of five winners and eight losers! Therefore, we would open one club and jump to two no trump at our next turn unless partner responds one heart. In that event we would make an invitational jump raise.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA Q 10 8 7 uA Q 10 9 4 v6 w8 3

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2NT Pass

3u Pass 3NT Pass

What do you bid now?

A. Bid four hearts to complete the description of your holding.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA 10 7 6 2 u6 vK Q 10 wK 8 7 3

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2w Pass

What do you bid now?

A. We have a sneaking admiration for those who plan to show extra values by bidding two diamonds now and then supporting clubs next — that could make it easier to show your club fit and extra values. The drawback is that partner might not then expect you to have four-card support for his suit, so avoid that problem by raising clubs immediately. Bid three clubs.

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