bridge

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Weekly Quiz Answers

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xA 10 6 5 uQ J 7 3 v8 4 w7 6 2

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1w Dbl 2w ?

Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. You have enough to compete but, if you pick a suit to bid, you could end up in a 4-3 fit. Since it is unlikely that you could want to double for penalties at the two-level when sandwiched between two hands showing length in the suit, a double by you now should be for takeout, forcing partner to select a suit.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA J 8 3 uK Q 9 5 vQ J 6 w7 2

The bidding has proceeded:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1w Dbl Pass 1u

Pass ?

What action do you take?

A. Since partner’s simple response to your takeout double shows a maximum of 8-9 points, this hand is going nowhere. Tell partner you have a minimum takeout double by passing.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x6 2 u10 8 7 vA Q 6 wQ J 10 5 4

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

A. Your hand is not quite good enough for a two-over-one response, and to respond one no trump with a weak doubleton in the unbid major is distasteful. Therefore raise to two hearts despite having only weak three-card support.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA Q 7 6 4 uK J 8 4 3 vVoid w10 7 6

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1v Dbl 4v ?

What do you bid now?

A. You are surely in slam territory, and the way to get that across to partner, as well as to be sure you land in the right strain is to cue bid five diamonds now.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA Q 10 7 6 uJ 9 vJ 8 7 3 w8 7

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass 1u 4v ?

What action do you take?

A. All in all, it looks as if your best bet is a double.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x9 6 5 4 uJ 6 5 2 vA 8 wA K 8

North opens the bidding with five diamonds. What action do you take?

A. Partner’s vulnerable pre-empt at this level should show about 10 tricks with diamonds as trumps, and you are bringing him three more, so it might seem that you should raise to slam. However, there is the possibility that partner has two fast losers in one of the majors, so we would take the conservative view and pass.

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