bridge

bridge

Weekly quiz answers

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA K J 10 6 5 2 u8 4 vQ 6 w8 2

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

A. The way to describe this hand is to jump to four spades. That will set partner’s mind at rest about the trump suit and he can move on with controls in the other suits.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xK Q J uJ 8 6 vK 9 3 w10 7 6 3

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w 1v ?

What do you bid now?

A. You have a balanced hand with a stopper in the enemy suit. That is the book description of a one no trump response with a balanced hand of up to 10 points containing a stopper in the enemy suit. Since you are bidding voluntarily, this is forward-going, not weak — the weak action is to pass.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xJ 8 7 u9 3 vA 8 7 3 w9 8 4 3

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

A. The hand is balanced and the short suit is the one in which partner opened. To offer partner even the mildest encouragement is asking for trouble. Pass.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

x10 5 3 uJ 2 vJ 7 6 wQ 10 7 4 3

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1NT Dbl ?

What action do you take?

A. East’s double is primarily for penalties, and there is no reason to suspect that, at no trump, partner will regard your hand as a thing of beauty. At clubs, however, it is bound to be worth a couple of extra tricks, so correct to two clubs.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xK uQ J 9 5 4 vQ 8 7 6 3 2 w8

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

A. This is simply a matter of preparedness. Suppose partner rebids one no trump no matter what you respond. If you select one diamond now, you will not be able to bid hearts next since that will be a reverse and forcing to game. Therefore, respond one heart, then bid diamonds next, depending on partner’s rebid.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x9 8 uJ 7 vA K 10 7 5 2 w7 5 4

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1x Pass Pass ?

What action do you take?

A. It is tempting to reopen with a bid of two diamonds, since partner could hold a pretty good hand that was unsuitable for immediate action. Equally possible, though, is that West has a strong major two-suiter and, given the chance, your opponents might sail into an unbeatable game in hearts. Since that risk is real, pass.

2011 Tribune Media Services