bridge

bridge

Weekly quiz answers

Q. Neither vulnerable, you hold:

xK 10 8 3 u10 6 5 2 vA J 8 7 w5

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

A. The correct method to handle four-card suits is to bid them up the line, so the recommended response is one diamond.

Q. East-West vulnerable, you hold:

xA Q J 10 8 4 uJ 8 3 v6 2 w9 4

Partner opens the bidding with one no trump. What do you respond?

A. This is no problem. You want to play in game and nothing else so, depending on your methods, either jump to game in spades or transfer into spades and then raise to game.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x8 4 uA Q 7 6 4 3 vJ 9 4 wA 4

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 1u Pass

1NT Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. With 11 high-card points, a six-card major and ruffing values, it might seem craven to bid anything less than four hearts. However, this is a seven-loser hand and there is no guarantee that partner has a filler in hearts. An invitational jump to three hearts is adequate.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x9 5 u7 2 vA K J 9 7 6 w7 5 4

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1xPass Pass ?

What action do you take?

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

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA Q 8 3 uA 10 8 vQ wK 9 5 4 2

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

A. Regardless of whether you play four- or five-card majors, if you have a forcing raise of one club available, forget about it! You are going to need room to explore the possibilities, so start with a response of one spade and see how partner likes that.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

x7 5 uJ 2 vA 9 6 5 wA 7 5 4 2

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTHWEST

1x Pass 1NT Pass

2u Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. Do not even spend a moment considering two no trump — you have no source of tricks. All you can do is take a preference to two spades. If there is a game for your side, partner must have enough to bid again.

2011 Tribune Media Services