bridge

bridge

Weekly Quiz Answers

Q. Vulnerable as South, you hold:

xJ 9 uK Q 10 6 3 vJ 8 7 6 2 w5

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x Pass 1NT Pass

2w Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. With partner having bid two suits, there are those who might take a preference to two spades. However, we see no reason why you should want to suppress a good five-card major. Bid two hearts.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xA K 5 uA 10 9 4 2 vA K Q 7 6 wVoid

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

3NT* Pass ?

*Solid seven-card minor, no outside ace or king

What do you bid now?

A. This is a case for simple arithmetic. Partner promises seven tricks in clubs and you have six in the other three suits, so bid a grand slam. However, bid it in clubs — in notrump you might not have an entry to partner’s hand!

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xQ 10 7 6 5 uA Q J v9 7 4 wK 8

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1x Pass

2v Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. As responder, your first duty is to rebid a five-card major, if you have one. Start by rebidding two spades. Partner’s next action should clarify his distribution.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

x9 5 uQ 9 7 vJ 10 9 5 2 wA 8 6

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Dbl ?

What do you bid now?

A. When bidding at the one- level over a takeout double, bid as if your right-hand opponent had passed! Had that been the case, you would have bid one notrump over East’s pass, so bid it now.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

x8 3 uA 9 3 2 vK J 6 3 wA 8 5

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

A. Your prime cards make your hand worth more like 13-14 points than 12. So it is tempting to jump to three no trump. However, with only one tenace it could be better to have partner declare, so we won’t fault a simple two diamonds to see what develops.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA 9 5 uJ 8 7 4 v5 wA K 7 6 2

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v 1x 2u Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. On this auction, you couldn’t have a better 12 points for partner if you sorted through the deck! It is close between a cue-bid of two spades or a jump to game. We will settle for four hearts, but we will cooperate with any slam effort partner might make.

2012 Tribune Media Services