bridge

bridge

Weekly Quiz answers

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x7 uA 8 6 5 2 vK Q J 7 6 w9 5

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

A. If you choose to bid four hearts, there is no doubt you will be in a comfortable game. However despite your count of 13 distributional points you could very easily be laydown for slam on many hands where partner would pass. Show your interest by jumping to three diamonds and see how partner reacts.

Q. Both vulnerable as South you hold:

xA Q 9 7 6 uK J 5 vA Q w10 7 6

What is your opening bid?

A. What’s the problem? You have a five-card spade suit and 16-plus points — a comfortable one spade opening bid. However, the problem comes when you have to rebid — it might be near impossible to describe your hand. Mix a spade in with your clubs and open one no trump.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x10 9 7 3 uA K 9 5 vA Q w10 7 6

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 2w Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. With a balanced 15, why not open one no trump? Now you have to pass and play what could well be your second-best contract.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xJ 7 4 uJ 8 vA 9 8 5 wK 7 6 4

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass ?

What do you respond?

A. To bid anything but one no trump should be unthinkable. Why raise diamonds with your balanced hand, especially since partner might have bid a three-card suit?

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

x10 8 3 uA Q J 2 v9 5 wK Q 9 5

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 1u Pass

2w Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. Your choice lies between an ugly bid of the fourth suit or a slight underbid of three clubs, and we have a strong preference for the latter.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

xK 9 2 uK 7 5 4 vQ 10 4 w8 6 5

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1u Pass

1x Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. You have a minimum response and a square hand, so don’t look for miracles. While you have three-card support for both of partner’s suits, you have a flat hand and can describe both its strength and shape by rebidding one no trump.

2012 Tribune Media Services