bridge

bridge

Answers to weekly quiz:

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA K J 10 6 uK 9 v7 2 w10 6 5 2

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2u Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. Partner’s response has done little to improve your holding. For the moment, you have to content yourself with a simple two spades and see what develops.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x10 7 uA 9 8 5 vK J 7 6 wQ 7 3

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

A. That depends on your methods. If you play limit raises, this hand qualifies as a sound jump to three hearts. If you play weak jump raises and forcing notrump responses, by all means use that here.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA 10 7 uK J 9 5 3 v8 5 4 w10 6

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

A. Don’t let that fifth heart tempt you into doing something rash. You have a sound raise to two hearts and no good reason to stretch it. Bid it.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xQ 8 7 4 uK 9 3 vK 10 6 2 w9 3

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

A. You have just enough to invite game — 8 HCP with good intermediates. However, your ruffing value in clubs means that spades could be the right spot if partner has four-card support, so start with a Stayman two clubs.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xA Q 10 6 5 u10 9 5 3 vK J 7 w6

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

A. You want to be in game in a major should you have a combined eight cards or more in either. Find out by starting with a Stayman inquiry. Should partner deny four cards in either major, jump to three spades to offer a choice of game in spades, should he have three-card support, or three no trump.

Q. Both vulnerable you hold:

x10 7 6 2 uQ 10 8 7 6 3 v9 5 w8

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

A. This is not the hand for Stayman. Even if partner has four spades, your hand might be useless to him if he is forced to ruff before he can establish your hearts. However, we do want to commit to game in hearts by whatever your methods, and if nothing covers this distribution, simply get to four hearts by a transfer bid or, if none is available, by the most direct means.

2012 Tribune Media Services