BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Weekly Quiz Answers

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x9 7 3 uA 9 8 3 v7 6 2 w8 5 3

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

A. Just because you have an ace and three-card support does not give you license to respond with a flat hand. You might not make game opposite a demand bid in spades! Pass.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA Q 7 6 uK 10 6 vA 9 6 2 w10 7

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

A. With your balanced 13 points you have enough to jump to game in notrump, but that might not be the best spot — what if partner has a black two-suiter with four spades? Respond one spade and see what develops.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

x9 7 6 uK 10 9 6 3 vA 10 7 6 w9

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1w Dbl 1u ?

What action do you take?

A. Since partner’s double has shown hearts, it is quite possible that East is trying to pull a fast one with a psychic bid. There is a simple rule that covers this situation: When your partner has made a takeout double and RHO steals the bid you would have made, double for penalties and see what transpires.

Q. North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xQ J 9 4 uK 10 8 6 vA 10 5 w7 5

The bidding has proceeded:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1w Pass 2w Dbl

Pass ?

What action do you take?

A. You have a fair hand and a choice of major suits to tell partner about, but why take the chance of responding to partner’s takeout request in the wrong one? A cue-bid of the enemy suit now describes this perfectly Bid three clubs!

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xJ 9 uA 10 7 vJ 9 6 wK J 7 6 2

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x 2v ?

What action do you take?

A. You are too good to pass but not strong enough to venture three clubs. That leaves you with only one viable choice — double, whether you play that as negative (for takeout) or for penalties! Your side has the balance of power and, even if they make the contract, you have not doubled them into game. At the table, that would have collected 800 points on a hand where you could not make game as the cards lay.

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

xK Q 9 3 uVoid vA K J 9 5 3 wA K 7

The bidding has proceeded:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1u 2u Pass 3w

3u ?

What action do you take?

A. What would you like to do that you have left undone? You have told the world that you have a three-suited powerhouse and partner still has another turn to bid. Pass, and see what, if anything, develops.

2012 Tribune Media Services