BRIDGE

March 8, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Answers to weekly quiz

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA 6 3 2 u9 5 vA J 8 wK 9 7 6

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1u Pass 2u ?

What do you bid now?

A. Pass.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xQ 3 uK 7 vK J 6 4 wA Q 9 8 3

Your right-hand opponent deals and opens the bidding with three hearts. What action do you take?

A. More than likely, you have the best hand at the table. However, your doubleton spade means that you have no margin of safety, so a double is out of the question, and to bid a minor shows a fat wallet. Should you bid three no trump, we salute your bravery but would hate to cut you in a rubber-bridge game. If you are our partner, please pass.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xK 10 9 6 5 2 u4 3 vVoid wA 8 7 4 3

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1uPass 1x Pass

1NT Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. Your hand has tremendous trick-taking ability so we would take our shot at four spades and expect to have a good chance of making it.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x7 2 uA K 8 5 2 vA J 3 2 w8 4

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 1x Pass

2v Pass 2NT Pass

What do you bid now?

A. Pass and settle for the partscore.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xK Q J 10 3 u9 4 vA K 8 wK 8 6

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

A. Start with a simple one-spade response. Partner’s next bid might help clarify the situation.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x7 u8 3 vA K 8 7 6 wA 10 9 5 4

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

A. This hand is just a whisker short of a jump shift — change one of your low diamonds to the queen and that action would be clear cut. Here, however, start with a simple one-diamond response and then bid clubs at your next turn.

SCrt 2010 Tribune Media Services