bridge

bridge

Weekly quiz answers

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xJ 10 7 6 uQ 9 8 5 vK J 6 wQ 10

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

A. The normal action is to probe for a 4-4 major fit by asking with a Stayman two clubs. However, with all those secondary honors and tenaces in the short suits, a strong argument can be made for simply raising to three no trump.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA 10 3 uA 7 6 2 v8 7 4 wA 8 6

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1x Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. You have a flat 12 points and, though partner is a favorite to have five spades, you do not want to do anything that will encourage him to bid on. A rebid of one no trump fits this hand perfectly.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA K Q 10 2 uJ 8 7 5 vA K 3 w4

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

A. In terms of high cards, this hand is good enough for a jump shift. However, the fact that you are short in opener’s suit and you would like a sixth card in your own should make you wary. Respond just one spade to leave yourself the maximum room for investigation.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x7 6 2 uA 10 9 7 vQ 10 6 4 wK 9

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

A. In response to a one-level opening bid, show your four-card suits up the line. This holds true whether responder holds both majors or a major-minor combination. Respond one diamond.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you holds:

xK uQ 5 vA K Q 10 7 6 3 wJ 5 4

Your right-hand opens the bidding with one no trump. What action do you take?

A. Three actions come into play: double, three diamonds or pass. The trouble with a double is that it might induce partner to do something rash, expecting more from you in high cards. Three diamonds might steal bidding room from the opponents, but even so the action that appeals most is pass.

Q. North-South vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA 4 uA K Q 10 v10 8 6 5 w8 7 4

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass 1x ?

What action do you take?

A. It is less dangerous to act now than later, when the auction is at a higher level, so double.

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