bridge

bridge

Weekly quiz answers

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xK 9 3 uA J 10 5 vA Q 9 wK Q 6

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

A. Since you do not know where you want to play the hand, all you can do to leave the maximum room for exploration is to respond one heart and get partner’s reaction.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xQ J 9 5 uA K 8 5 4 v6 wA K 7

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 2v Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. Despite the possible misfit, you must do something to display your 17 high-card points. The logical way to accomplish that without getting too high is to make the reverse bid of two spades and see how partner likes that.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xQ 9 7 6 uK 8 6 5 2 v7 wK 8 2

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

A. You have just enough to conduct an invitational auction in a major. Start by bidding two clubs to inquire about partner’s major-suit holdings. If partner denies a major with a two-club response, bid two hearts.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xK Q 10 5 u7 4 vA 9 4 wA Q J 8

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1x Pass

2x Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. You must start by finding out more about partner’s hand, so we suggest you bid three clubs now. If there is slam in the cards, partner will have to show a heart control somewhere along the line.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xJ 9 6 5 2 uA K J 8 2 vA 9 w7

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

A. When you hold two five-card suits, bid your higher-ranking suit first regardless of suit quality, then the lower-ranking suit twice, if necessary. Respond one spade.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x8 uA Q J 6 2 vQ J 9 6 wA Q 8

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 2v Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. It depends on style. If you play that a two-over-one response is game-forcing, it is enough to set the suit now by bidding three diamonds. If, however, you play that three diamonds can be passed then you must do more. In both instances three clubs would be our second choice.

2011 Tribune Media Services