bridge

bridge

Weekly Quiz Answers

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA J 7 uK 10 9 3 vA J 9 6 2 w8

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 1x Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. A bid of two hearts now would be a reverse, showing extra strength. Since you have a minimum opener, all you can do for the moment is raise to two spades and see how partner reacts.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

x8 uA J 8 6 3 vK 7 wQ J 7 4 3

As dealer, what action do you take?

A. Pass! You have no good rebid over partner’s expected one-spade response. To bid two-clubs with such a shabby suit asks for trouble and to bid one no trump with a weak singleton, even though partner has responded in the suit, misdescribes your holding.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xJ 8 3 uA 9 8 6 2 v9 4 wJ 7 6

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 1u Pass

1x Pass ?

What action do you take?

A. Partner’s one-spade rebid was not forcing, so take advantage of this to tell partner you have a mediocre hand — pass!

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xA Q 9 3 uK J 5 v7 wA 9 6 4 3

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1x Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. With 14 high-card points, a singleton and no wasted values, your hand is worth more like 18 points than its high-card points suggest. Jump raise to three spades.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xQ 7 6 2 uA Q 7 4 v6 wA K J 6

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1x Pass

What do you bid now?

A. In support of spades your hand is worth about 19 points. Tell partner the good news by making a splinter bid in your short suit. Jump to three diamonds!

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

x -- uQ 8 5 4 vA Q 5 2 wA Q 8 7 3

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1u Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. A jump to three spades would show a singleton and a strong hand — theoretically, to show a void you need to jump to four spades. However, that gets you to the five-level. You have to tell a little white lie and treat your void as a singleton — jump to three spades.

2012 Tribune Media Services