bridge

bridge

Weekly Quiz Answers

Q. Vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA K J 6 u7 2 vK 9 8 6 3 w9 2

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

A. Respond two diamonds, preparing for a comfortable bid in spades next.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

x5 uK 8 7 4 2 vK 9 8 wA 10 6 5

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

Pass Pass 1u Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. We know many who would have opened this hand, so don’t underbid now! Even if partner opened light in third seat, you should have play for game. Take a demerit if you did anything other than leap to four hearts, directly or via a splinter bid in spades.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

x8 7 3 u9 vJ 8 4 3 wK 10 8 7 3

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. Even viewed optimistically, your hand is worth just 6 points and you have weak three-card support for partner’s major suit. However, that does not take into account the pre-emptive value of the master suit. Raise to two spades to complicate life for your opponents.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xJ 8 5 uJ 10 2 vA K J 9 2 wK 8

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 1x Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. We are not enamored with raising partner’s major with three-card support when we have a good five-card minor and a balanced hand. We would choose between two diamonds and one notrump, and prefer the latter despite a tenuous heart stopper.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xQ 9 uJ 8 5 vA Q 9 7 2 wK J 7

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 1x Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. Two bids come to mind — one no trump and two diamonds. Despite the quality of the suit, we would not like rebidding a five-card minor holding a balanced minimum. We opt for one no trump, even though the heart stopper is, at best, tenuous.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xQ 5 uK J 9 8 2 vA Q 6 2 w8 7

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 1u Pass

1x Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. If you play fourth-suit forcing, by all means trot it out now — bid two clubs. If not, jump to three diamonds to create a game force and see what develops.

2012 Tribune Media Services