BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Weekly Quiz Answers

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA 9 3 uA Q 10 5 3 vJ 10 8 5 w7

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 2w Dbl

?

What action do you take?

A. With a dead-minimum opening bid and no support for partner’s suit, there is no reason for you to do anything. Pass. Any further action must come from partner.

Q. Vulnerable, you hold:

xJ 10 7 uJ 7 5 vQ 4 wA J 10 9 6

Partner opens the bidding with two no trump (20-22). What do you respond?

A. With only 9 points, you cannot look for slam despite your reasonable five-card suit. On a bad day, partner might not even have an entry to your hand after setting up your long suit! Be content to raise to three no trump.

Q. Vulnerable, you hold:

xA K uA K 9 3 vK 2 wA 10 9 6 4

What is your opening bid?

A. If you use an artificial two clubs as your strong opening bid, you do not want to start showing such a wishy-washy club suit at the three-level. It is slightly more appealing if two clubs is a natural demand bid but, for our money, we would treat this holding as a balanced 21 points and open two no trump.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xK 9 8 3 2 u8 vJ 10 6 wA K J 9

The bidding has proceeded:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

4u Pass Pass ?

What action do you take?

A. Sometimes you have to roll the dice, otherwise the opponents will steal you blind in the long run. Partner could have passed with a useful hand but, from North’s point of view, a less than ideal holding in the majors. Make a takeout double and see what transpires.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xQ J 5 uA K J 7 vA 10 8 w8 5 4

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1u Pass

2NT Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. This is a simple matter of arithmetic. Add your 15 points to partner’s announced 18-19 (or 20, if that is your range) and you arrive at enough for a small slam, but nowhere near enough for a grand slam. Don’t risk making any bid partner might pass. Jump to six no trump.

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

xK Q 7 5 3 2 uJ 5 vK 10 9 wK 3

The bidding has proceeded:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2u Pass

2x Pass 3v Pass

?

What do you bid now?

A. With a slightly unbalanced hand facing a partner whose holding is largely unknown, although reasonably strong, don’t be in a hurry to declare no trump with only a single stopper in the unbid suit. For the moment, take a false preference to three hearts and await partner’s reaction.

2013 Tribune Media Services