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bridge
bridge
Weekly quiz answers
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
xJ 7 5 u9 vQ J 9 3 2 wJ 10 6 3
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1u Dbl ?
What action do you take?
A. Pass.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
xK 7 3 uA 6 v10 9 6 5 2 wQ 8 7
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1w Pass 1v Pass
1x Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. Although it is tempting, with only one stopper in the unbid major, to support one of partner’s suits, that would not do justice to your holding. With a balanced 9-count, one no trump is automatic.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x9 uK vK Q 8 7 6 2 wK J 7 6 3
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1x Pass 2v Pass
2u Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. Bid three diamonds.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
xA J 6 uA Q 10 5 4 vK 7 6 wA 10
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 3NT Pass
?
What action do you take?
A. Partner’s leap to three no trump shows a very specific hand — a 4-3-3-3 pattern with 15-17 points. That gives you enough to bid a small slam but a whisker short of anything else. It is simply a matter of whether you should bid six hearts on the known eight-card fit or six no trump. We prefer the latter, since you might have 12 tricks at no trump when an evil heart distribution sinks the suit slam.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x9 3 uA Q 8 7 3 vA Q 10 wA Q 9
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 2w Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. The solution is a temporizing bid of two diamonds to see how partner reacts.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
xA J 7 6 uA 9 6 vA 9 wQ J 8 7
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1x Pass
2v Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. Any hand with three aces facing an opening bid is powerful indeed, and it is easy to construct a North holding that would produce excellent play or slam. If that were the case, though, you have no way to investigate without contorting the auction, so simply jump to three no trump.
2011 Tribune Media Services