bridge

bridge

Answers to weekly quiz

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xK 10 5 u9 6 2 vA 9 4 wJ 8 7 3

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1u 1x ?

What action do you take?

A. Switch your major suit holdings around and you would have an easy raise to two hearts. Here, however, you have a borderline one no trump response, which we prefer to a bid of two hearts with three low cards as your support and a dead minimum in points.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x9 8 5 u7 2 vK 9 3 wQ 8 7 4 2

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

A. You have five high-card points, a weak five-card minor, and your short suit is the one which partner opened. Which of these liabilities do you think qualifies your hand for a response? Pass.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xK Q 9 5 u10 7 6 2 v9 5 w9 8 6

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

A. As in the previous example, you have five high-card points and shortness in partner’s suit, but here you have four cards in each major. Your chances of finding a fit have improved dramatically. Respond one heart.

Q. East-West vulnerable, as South you hold:

x9 uQ 10 6 5 vK 9 8 3 wA 9 8 6

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

A. In support of hearts, your hand is worth some 11-12 points so, if you play limit raises, it is clearly worth a jump to three hearts. If you don’t, you have to plan to make two bids, so bid two clubs before supporting hearts.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x9 uA 10 6 3 vA Q 7 6 2 w10 7 4

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

A. We would jump to four hearts, for two reasons. We think that, in support of hearts, your hand is worth a full opening bid. Secondly, we would like to make it as difficult as possible for the opponents to compete in spades.

Q. East-West vulnerable, as South you hold:

x10 7 6 uA 9 5 v7 wK J 6 5 3 2

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1u Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. Give us a fourth heart, and we would jump to three hearts for its preemptive value, if nothing else. With only three-card support, however, we can think of no bid other than a simple raise to two hearts.

2012 Tribune Media Services