bridge

bridge

Weekly quiz answers

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xQ 8 5 2 u7 6 vQ 9 5 wK 10 7 6

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

A. Bid three clubs — Stayman. In a team match, three no trump went down when declarer had to lose three hearts and two aces, but four spades made in comfort at the other table.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA K Q 7 uJ 2 vA Q 10 9 7 5 2 wVoid

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

A. This hand has the potential for a misfit, so forget about a jump shift in diamonds for the moment — that tends to show a self-sufficient suit, and you are at least the jack away from that — or a fit for partner’s suit. Respond one diamond — you can catch up later if necessary.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA Q 9 3 u10 7 vK J 9 5 wQ 10 2

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

A. As we stated a couple of weeks ago, the rule for responding with two or more four-card suits could not be simpler — bid your suits up the line, showing your cheaper suit first. Therefore, your correct response is one diamond despite the fact that the suit quality in spades better.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA 9 8 6 uVoid vA J 7 6 2 w10 9 3 2

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1v Pass

1S Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. To bid anything less than four spades would be a gross dereliction of duty.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA Q J 7 6 4 2 u10 6 vVoid wK J 9 5

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2v Pass

2x Pass 3v Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. You have one story to tell, and only one. This looks like a misfit, so you should try to convince partner that spades is the right spot even if he holds a singleton! Bid three spades.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x8 uJ 8 vA Q 8 7 4 3 wA 10 4 3

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1x 1NT Pass ?

What action do you take?

A. Should you look for a slam on a hand where partner surely has wasted values in spades? We think not, which makes three no trump the automatic bid with this hand!

2011 Tribune Media Services