bridge

October 11, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Answers to weekly quiz:

Q. Both vulnerable as South you hold:

xA K Q 9 5 u8 4 vK 10 7 wK 8 3

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1xPass 2v Pass

What do you bid now?

A. You might have opened one no trump with your balanced 15 points, but your prime cards suggest that the hand might play better in a suit contract than no trump. Raise to three diamonds

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA K 10 7 6 3 uK 9 v8 4 wJ 8 4

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1xPass Pass2u

What do you bid now?

A. You are clearly outgunned and, despite your six-card holding in the master suit, if you move you can run into trouble. Pass.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xA Q 6 5 uA Q 4 v9 5 2 wA Q 7

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

1wPassPass1u

What action do you take?

A. Your best chance for a plus score is that the opponents get too high and you defeat them. But beware of doubling even a game — you might end up taking no more than your three aces. Bid one no trump.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA J 10 7 3 u9 vA 8 5 wA Q 8 5

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

1xPass2wPass

What do you bid now?

A. Regardless of whether you play partner’s response as invitational or forcing, for the moment, do nothing more than raise to three clubs.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x6 5 2 uA 9 8 5 3 v8 5 wA 7 6

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTHEASTSOUTHWEST

1vPass1uPass

2vPass?

What do you bid now?

A. Partner has shown a minimum and probably no more than two hearts. Why risk changing a possible plus score into a minus by pushing on with a hand more suited to defense than offense? Pass.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xQ 9 8 4 u9 5 v10 6 4 wK 8 6 5

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTHEASTSOUTHWEST

1xPass2xPass

2NTPass ?

What do you bid now?

A. With four-card support for opener’s suit, correct to three spades.

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