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Updated 2-1-07 #1 HOW DO YOU HANDLE THESE RESPONDING HANDS? YOUR PARTNER OPENS 2NT (20-21), NEXT HAND PASSES AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT THESE SIX HANDS. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE? (YOU ARE PLAYING STAYMAN,
GERBER, AND TRANSFER RESPONSES. SOLUTIONS 1. 3C.
If partner shows a major you plan to raise. If partner
bids 3D, you will bid 3H showing 5 hearts and 4 spades. Note: Some
play "Smolen". Playing Smolen instead
of bidding your five card major, you bid your four card major showing
five cards in the other major. This allows the stronger
hand to play the contact holding a three card fit in your five card
major. It is a very popular convention for obvious reasons. #2 A BIDDING QUIZ TESTING YOU ON OPENER'S THIRD BID With both sides vulnerable at IMP scoring the bidding has proceeded: South (you)
West
North
East What rebid would you make with the following South hands? #1 S. 4 #2 S. 5 #3 S. KQ #4 S. K7 #5 S. 9 #6 S. - SOLUTIONS #1- 4H Your partner has a strong hand and your independent heart suit must be revealed. You can play in hearts facing a void if necessary. #2- 3H You have a minimum opening bid with a possibly wasted DK. Your heart suit is independent, always a plus; 3NT is off the wall. #3- 4S Your hand has improved tremendously on the bidding. Partner figures to have five or six spades. (If partner had four spades, he would have arranged a different auction). There is a likely slam here and you should indicate the strength of your spades; a raise in clubs, partner's second suit, would show four clubs. #4- 3S You have already shown partner six hearts so now is the time to give partner a preference. A raise to 4C shows four card support and rebids of 3H or 3NT are ld both off the wall. #5- 3NT Sticks out like a sore thumb. #6- 4D! You have to have talked this one over! The jump to 4D announces a big fit with partner's last bid suit plus the ace of the jump suit. It's a neat way of showing fitting hands while staying beneath the level of 4NT. The leap is called the " an out of the blue cue". #3: RESPONDER'S REBID AFTER A 1NT RESPONSE Let's see how familiar you are with responder's follow up rebids after having responded 1NT to a 1S opening bid. You are South, neither side is vulnerable, and you are playing matchpoints. South
West North
East What is your rebid, if anything, with each of the following seven hands? 1. S. 72
H. A1098
D. J103
C. KJ108 SOLUTIONS 1. 2NT. This normally shows 10 HCP with the unbid suits well stopped. However, you are allowed to cheat a point holding three tens. 2. 2S. With three cards in each of partner's suits, return to the first suit if you want to keep your partner; pass if you want to get rid of him. 3. 2H. Even with four diamonds you simply cannot conceal a six card major of this strength. 4. 3D. Seems pretty obvious. If you even thought of bidding something else, don't mention it in public. 5. 3C. For the same reason you bid 2H on #3, to show your partner a strong six card suit with few HCP. 6. Pass. Anything else is playing with fire. 7. 4C. The "out of the blue cue". What, you've never heard of it? This jump from outer space shows a magnificent fit with partner's last bid suit plus an ace in the jump suit. What else can it mean? You weren't strong enough to open or respond at the two level after you passed, so you must have been hit big time. However, take full credit if you jumped to 4D, but raising to only 3D is cowardly to the max. #4 BIDDING WITH LOUSY HANDS One doesn't always pick up good hands. Sometimes one has to make do with one like this:
You are sitting South playing IMPs with both sides vulnerable. How would you handle this lovely hand given the following 6 sequences? 1. West
North East
South 2. West
North East
South 3. North
East South
West 4. North
East South
West (1) Preemptive 5. North
East South
West 6. West
North East
South (1) 15-17 (2) Penalty double ANSWERS: 1. 2C. It's not for you to reason why, it's for you to do or die. Bid your cheaper four card suit and hope for the best. 2. Pass. You are off the hook after the redouble. It is up to partner to rescue himself. Bidding a minor suit at the two level after a redouble suggests a 5 card suit, exceptionally a strong four carder. 3. 2D. Partner's double is for takeout and you are taking it out. Bridge is a simple game. 4. 4C. The other choice is 5C, a bid you might make if your king were in another suit, any other suit. Partner figures to have 10 or 11 black cards with more clubs than spades (possibly 5-5) and there are no words to describe a "pass" at this point. 5. 4H. Having passed partner's 1H opening bid, you could hardly have more. Besides, there is a double fit - always good for taking mucho tricks offensively. Go for it! 6. Pass. Your partner has announced a hand as strong or stronger than the opening bidder. Believe it or not, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Your side probably has as many or HCP than they do and partner is on lead. If you remove partner's penalty double of one notrump, you announce a weak hand with a five or six card suit. #5 WHAT'S YOUR AMBASSADOR HOTEL BID? Many years ago I played at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles during the annual Bridge Week tournament. Some of these "Bridge Weeks" outdrew some of the National Tournaments. Here are a few hands I had to deal with. See how your action compared with mine. You are always South. 1. East-West Vul. South
West North
East 2. East-West Vul. South
West North
East 3. Both sides Vul.
(1) Strong spade raise WHAT'S YOUR BID? 4. Both sides Vul. East
South
West North (1) Forcing WHAT'S YOUR BID? 5. Neither side Vul. North
East
South West WHAT WOULD HAVE WORKED 1. It was right to sacrifice
at 5D. The opponents can make exactly 4S and 5D
is down only two.. 2. This time it was right
to pass. You have already told your hand and further competition
should be up to partner. In any case, they go down 2,
vulnerable. 3. I bid 5C which was doubled and beaten 1 trick. 4 Spades could not make. Partner's hand: 5. This time I did something
right. I bid 5C which turned out to be a great contract.
Partner's hand: #6 WHAT'S YOUR SAN ANTONIO BID? Here are four bidding decisions from a National Championship in San Antonio. Let's see how you would have fared. Assume you are playing matchpoints. You are always South and since you and partner have most of the high card strength, the opponents pass throughout. I know that in real life this never happens, but in this quiz it does. 1. You hold: North
South
2. You hold: South
North
North
South (Most would respond 1H but a follow up bid of 3C would suggest 5 hearts)
North
South (1) Regular Blackwood
(At that time Key Card Blackwood was not as well known). WHAT WOULD HAVE WORKED 1. Cuebid 4D.
You have nothing to be ashamed of and that DA might be just what the
Dr. ordered. In fact it was. Partner will check for aces and kings and discover a king is missing. At this point partner should subside in 6NT which pays 10 points more than hearts.
Partner hand:
#7 TEST YOUR MATCHPOINT BIDDING How would you handle this fairly common sequence in the South seat with neither side vulnerable playing matchpoints? South (you)
West North East You hold: (a) S. AJ1087
H. KQ876 D. K2 C. 3 SOLUTIONS (a) 2H You have enough strength and distribution to bid your second suit. If not now, when? (b) Rdbl. Letting partner know you have the best hand at the table at the same time encouraging him to join the party. Incidentally this is not a rescue S.O.S redouble. The S.O.S redouble is used after a takeout double has been left in for penalty: South (you)
West North East (This one is an S.O.S redouble) (c) 2S You have the strength and distribution to bid again, but you must have a strong suit to rebid it in this sequence. (d) 3H Not forcing but highly invitational. You don't need much for game facing this monster. (e) 3S Facing a passed partner this rebid shows a hand that can take about 8-9 tricks and doesn't need much for game. (f) Pass. This is not your hand, stay out of trouble. #8 A QUIZ FOR THE RESPONDER Do you know all the options you have in this sequence? Let's see. Try your hand at the following 8 responding hands and see how many you can get right! Opener
Responder (you) You hold: (a) S. 653
H. Q83 D. 8764 C. KJ9 SOLUTIONS (a) 2S Although partner will play you for a doubleton as it is rare to withhold three card major suit support, it is better in the long run to respond 1NT with a balanced 6 count than raise to 2S which "sounds" more encouraging. (b) 3C Forward going. You promise at least four clubs with 8-10 HCP. (c) 2NT You usually have 10 HCP for this rebid, but this 9 count is worth 10 any day of the week. Looks at those intermediates. (d) 2S You have a forward going hand and by bidding 2S you give your partner another chance to bid in case partner has extras. (e) 2H As long as you are going to bid a red suit, bid the major. (f) 3D! Don't count this as wrong if you didn't make this 'obvious' rebid! Just kidding. Many years ago the British writer, Norman Squire, suggested that in this sequence (and some similar ones ) where a jump in a new suit could not logically be natural, it should show a humongous fit with partner's last bid suit plus a control in the jump suit. He labeled the bid "The Out of the Blue Cue". Without that crutch at your disposal, leap to 5C as a jump to 4C would not be forcing. #9 A QUIZ ON LIMIT BIDS In order to better understand bridge bidding, it is important know which bids are limited and which bids are unlimited. A limited bid has a specific range of high card strength, usually a three point range. For example, an opening bid of 1NT which can show 12-14, 13-15, 15-17 or 16-18 depending upon agreement. Other bids such as an opening bid of 1H is considered unlimited because the range is so great. One can open 1H with as few as 10 or 11 HCP or as many as 20 HCP in some cases. The moment either the opener or the responder makes a limiting bid, the partner becomes the captain, at least for the moment. In the following quiz you will be shown 8 sequences and your job is to decide which, if any, of the bids are limited-have a range of about 3 HCP. Assume you are playing a standard system. 1. Opener
Responder 2. 1D
1H 3. 1H
1S 4. 1S
2S 5. 1C
1D 6. 1D
1H 7. 1S
1NT 8. 1S
2D SOLUTIONS 1. Neither hand is limited... yet. Opener has 11+ HCP and responder has 6+ HCP. 2. Both hands are unlimited. Opener's 1S rebid goes up to a bad 18 and responder's use of the fourth suit is completely unlimited. 3. Opener is considered unlimited by bidding two suits (though the practical ragne is typically 12-17). Responder is limited. 4. Responder is limited but opener is not. Opener can be trying for game or even slam! 5. Opener is unlimited (bidding two suits) and responder is limited to about 13-15 HCP. Note: Almost all notrump bids are limit bids. 6. Opener is limited (most raises are limit bids), but responder is not. 7. Both hands are limited. Opener has 17-18 and responder has 6-10 8. Opener is considered unlimited having bid two suits, but responder is limited. Playing a system where 2D is not a game force ("two over one"), responder should be in the 11-12 pt. range. #10 TEST YOUR BLUE RIBBON PAIRS BIDDING I have gone DEEP into my files and dug up four bidding problems faced by two world class pairs that took place years ago at the National Championships in Dallas. Assume you are playing in the Blue Ribbon Pairs and let's see how you stack up. (You are South) #1. You hold: S. Q97 H. AKQ65 D. QJ73 C. 2 You are B.J. Becker playing with Dorothy Hayden (now Dorothy Truscott). North
East South West #2. You are Lew Mathe playing with Bob Hamman. This is your hand: S. AQ3 H. K10765 D. 3 H. A1076 South
West North East #3. Back to B.J Becker- still playing with Dorothy. You hold: \ You hold: S. AKJ73 H. 106 D. K4 C. 10432 South
West North East #4 This time you are Bob Hamman still playing with Lew Mathe. This is your hand: S. 10 H. 103 D. A104 C. J1098732 North
East South
West WHAT WOULD HAVE WORKED 1. Becker jumped to 5NT, the Grand Slam Force and Dorothy dutifully leaped to 7D holding: S. AJ43 H. 43 D. AK109 C. AK10 The hand broke badly and Dorothy went down one trick. 2. Lew bid 3S and Hamman leaped to 5C holding: S. K97 H. A3 D. J92 C. J8543 Clubs divided 2-2 and the contract was made. They were the only pair to reach and make game on the hand. 3. B.J passed and had to play well to land the contract. Dorothy had: S. Q9 H. K75 D. A107653 C. K5 How did you do? #11 TO BALANCE OR NOT TO BALANCE? When the opponents conk out at the one or two level, it usually means that you and partner have about the same strength as they do. The questions is- should you let them play there, or should you stir up the pot and reopen the bidding? Try this quiz to see how well versed you are at the art of balancing. Assume you are playing in a team game, neither side is vulnerable and you are sitting South holding this hand: S. AJ76 H. 54 D. K876 C. Q109 Decide what you would do in the following six sequences: 1. East
South West North 2. East
South West North 3. West
North East South 4.
West North East
South 5.
West North East South 6.
West North East South MY TAKE 1. Dbl. Clear. A reopening double AFTER THE OPPONENTS HAVE FOUND A FIT, can be made with as few as 9 HCP providing you have shortness in the opponents' suit as well as support for the unbids. 2. Pass A double in this sequence shows heart length and strength with opening bid values. Not exactly what you have. Remember, they haven't found a fit in this sequence. 3. Double. Just barely. You have four card support for the unbids (mandatory), but you also have a wasted CQ on offense. 4. Pass. It would be pushing the pencil a bit to double here. Your DK is misplaced and you don't have four card support for both unbid suits. 5. Pass. You hate to sell out, but on the other hand you don't have enough to bid. 6. Double. A double in this position can be shaded down to 9-10 HCP if you have the right distribution-shortness in their suit plus support for the unbids. #12: TEST YOUR BIDDING JUDGEMENT Here is a bidding area which you won't see dealt with too often. Test your bidding judgement in the South with neither side vulnerable in the following sequence: West
North East
South (you) 1. S. A1054
H. 43 D. 108765 C. 54 SOLUTIONS 1. 1 SPADE.
Get the major suit in early before things get out of hand.
You aren't promising a rose garden when you bid in this sequence.
If everyone is telling the truth, partner knows you can't possibly
have a good hand. # 13 TEST YOUR BIDDING I.Q What is the meaning of the last double in each of the following sequences. Is it a penalty double or is it a takeout dbl? 1. South West
North East 2. South
West North East 3. South
West North East 4. South
West 5. South
West North East 6. South
West North East 7. South
West North East 8. South
West North East SOLUTIONS 1. Penalty.
Doubles of artificial bids are both penalty and lead directing doubles. S. AJ103 H. 2 D. KQ84 C. AJ74 #14. TEST YOUR RESPONSES TO PARTNER'S PREEMPT With neither side vulnerable, sitting South, playing for $$$, how would you handle the following six hands after partner opens 3C and the next hand passes? North East
South West 1. S. AQx
H. Axx D. xxxx C. AJx SOLUTIONS 1. 3NT and hope they
don't run the diamond suit. #15 TEST YOUR MONTE CARLO BIDDING Each year in Monte Carlo on the French Riviera they hold a big money bridge pairs tournament, over 300 teams entering. Prizes are awarded similar to golf tournaments. In this particular event they paid down 30 places and the winning pair split $10,000. The most prestigious event, however, is the knockout team of four. Here are four problems from this event. The eventual winners were the Lancia team (Belladonna, Garozzo, Vivaldi, Forquet and Omar Sharif). If you take the winning action on at least three of the following four problems, you might have wound up in the money! You are South: #1 Neither side vulnerable, dealer West You hold: S. J8742 H. 7 D. K32 C. AJ86 West North
East South
You hold: S. K83 H. K1093 D. Q743 C. 94 North
East South West #3 East-West vulnerable, dealer East You hold: S. 43 H. K98754 D. 2 C. KJ94 East South
West North * Weak Jump Overcall #4 North-South vulnerable, dealer West You hold: S. KQJ93 H. A10876 D. 843 C. - West North
East South WHAT WOULD HAVE WORKED: #1 It was right to either pass or double. You are down one in four spades. Partner's hand: S. 653 H. K102 D. A8765 C. K4 #2 It's right to bid on. They can make five or six spades depening upon the lead, and you are down two in five hearts. Partner's hand: S. 2 H. QJ643 D. AKJ85 C. Q6 #3 It's right to take the sac. If partner would have had two defensive tricks he would have doubled. One opponent appears to have solid diamonds and the other solid spades. Partner's outside length figures to be in clubs. Partner's hand: S. 52 H. AQJ2 D. 5 C. Q108765 You are down four or five (five if they find the club ruff) and that is a good save against their 1430. #4 This one cost us first place. It is right to bid 5S. One player from our team doubled, and the contract was made. You can make five spades. Partner's hand: S. 10865 H. KQ32 D. - C. KJ753 #16 RESPONDING TO THE UNUSUAL NOTRUMP West
North East South (you) Do you play that partner is showing at least 5-5 in the minors with typically 8-11 HCP? If your answer is yes, you play the Unusual Two No Trump Overcall. Assuming you use the convention or are thinking of using the convention, how would you respond to 2NT in the above sequence with the following six hands. (Both sides vulnerable) 1. S. AJ62 H.
Q843 D. J43 C. 73 SOLUTIONS: 1. 3D
Preferring diamonds to clubs. #17 ONE HAND, SIX QUESTIONS Vulnerable against not, sitting South you hold this hand: S. KJ10765 H. Q65 D. 654 C. 7 How do you handle this hand at IMP scoring given the following sequences: 1. North
East South West 2. East
South West North 3. North
East South West 4. North East
South West 5. West North
East South 6. East
South West North SOLUTIONS 1. 2H. Not strong enough to bid 2S 2. Pass Two weak for a weak jump overcall at this vulnerability. The HQ is not a good card offensively. 3. 2S Unless you play that a positive response in a suit guaranteed two of the top three honors. If you do, respond 2D, waiting. 4. 3S Rebid your strong six card major-the first priority. 5. Pass What else? 6. 2H Partner has a club-heart two-suiter possibly with four hearts and five clubs. If you get doubled, you might decide to run to 3C. Bid 2H confidently to stave off the double. # 18 THEY MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE! Are you familiar with the nuances of the responses in this sequence? North
East South (you) West With neither side vulnerable what would you bid, if anything, with each of the following hands at matchpoints? 1. S. KJ5 H. 32 D. AJ765 C. J43 2. S. KQ10943 H. 2 D. 8765 C. 76 3. S. A4 H. 10765 D. J765 C. 432 4. S. AJ3 H. K54 D. Q87 C. 10876 5. S. 2 H A1065 D. J10765 C. 876 6. S. AK765 H. 3 D. K1087 C. 765 7. S. J87 H. 5 D. QJ876 C. Q873 SOLUTIONS 1. Dbl. You have more high card points than they do and have the notrump bidder surrounded. 2. 2S By not doubling you show a long suit with a less than 9 HCP. 3. 2H Don't let them bully you. Four card support is always worth an extra point or two. 4. Dbl. 2H is for sissies. 5. 3H. Preemptive. Showing four or five hearts with more of a distributional hand than a raise to 2H - and maybe even fewer high card points (4-6). 6. Dbl. Don't tell me you let them off the hook by bidding 2S which shows a weak hand (see problem #2). 7. Pass With nothing to say, say nothing. #19 RESPONDER'S REBID AFTER A TWO LEVEL RESPONSE Assume the bidding has gone: North
South What is your rebid with each of the following 8 hands? 1. S. 543
H. QJ7 D. 54 C. AKJ87 3. S. 73 H. Q4
D. 765 C. AKJ1065 5. S. 63 H. KJ107
D. 75 C. AQ1097 7. S. 32 H.
J2 D. K108 C. AK10932 SOLUTIONS The solutions are given in matched pairs to show the difference between similar distributions with varying strength. 1. 2S. Describing
a hand with three spades and 10+to 12 HCP. Not forcing. 3. 3C. Invitational.
Partner is allowed to pass, particularly with a singleton club and
a minimum or near minimum opening bid. 5. 3H.
This one is played as not forcing by some and forcing by others. It
should be discussed by the partnership. If played as not forcing it
shows 10+ to 11 HCP with four hearts. 7. 2NT. Invitational.
Better than 3C which is more regressive. #20 RESPONDER'S REBID AFTER A ONE LEVEL RESPONSE With neither side vulnerable the bidding has proceeded: North
South (you) You, South, hold the following hands; what, if anything is your rebid? 1. S. J54 H.
AJ654 D. 2 C. 10764 SOLUTIONS 1. Pass. Partner's 1S rebid is not forcing and you should pass. 2. 3D, Invitational. Perfect. 3. 4H There really is no second choice; 3H would NOT be forcing. 4. 3NT Once in a while you suppress minor suit support to bid notrump. 5. 1NT This rebid shows 7-10 HCP. Don't even think about rebidding an unsupported five card suit unless it headed by three or four honor cards.
7. 3S. Invitational. Better to support partner's major as opposed to partner's minor holding four cards in each suit. 8. 2C. Fourth suit asking for more information. The 4th suit is considered artificial (unless it is rebid). In addition, it is a no-no for partner to bid notrump after the 4th suit unless partner has a stopper in the suit. #21 CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA After partner makes a takeout double and third hand redoubles, there isn't much strength left over for 4th hand. Let's see how you handle this common sequence with neither side vulnerable: West North
East South (you) What action, if any, would you take with the following 8 hands? 1. S. 1096
H. Q32 D. 9854
C. J82 SOLUTIONS 1. Pass. With a balanced hand lacking a four card major, let partner bail himself out in his longest suit. 2. 1D Bidding after a redouble does not show strength, just a little length. Your high card expectancy in this sequence is 2-5 HCP. 3. 2H Preemptive. Jumps bids over a redouble are preemptive. 4. Pass With a "good" (7+ HCP) cuebid or pass and then bid (or jump) to show strength. 2H would be preemptive. See previous problem. West North
East South In this sequence your 2H bid shows a relatively good hand. (7-9 HCP) With less you would have bid 1H or 2H directly; A jump to 3H would show an ever better hand. 5. 1H Same as #2 6. 2C A cuebid shows 7+ HCP with at least two places to play. 7. 3S Preemptive. (See #3) Typically a half way decent six card suit with little or nothing else. Just what you have. 8. Pass And then bid clubs which shows clubs. Bidding 2C directly is a cuebid. See problem #6. #22 DEALING WITH A PREEMPT Say you are vulnerable against not and your RHO opens 3C. How would you handle the following seven hands? 1. S. A4 H. KQ876 D. KJ765 C. 4 2. S. 53 H. AQJ984 D. AKQ5 C. 6 3. S. 54 H. K4 D. AKQ982 C. A105 4. S. 2 H. QJ984 D. AKQ984 C. A 5. S. AKJ94 H. KQJ54 D. 1097 C. - 6. S. AJ765 H. KQ87 D. AQ75 C. - 7. S. AJ4 H. J32 D. 543 C. AQ109 SOLUTIONS 1. 3H You can't just sit there with this good of a hand. If you get doubled, you might consider running to your other suit. 2. 4H Much too good for 3H which puts undue pressure on your partner. When you need just a little bit to make game, bid it yourself! 3. 3NT Are you a man or a mouse? Solid minor suits were meant to play notrump. 4. 3D Ugh! And pray someone, anyone, bids something. If they do, bid 4H. Making a takeout double with a singleton spade, an unbid suit, is a recipe for disaster. If everyone passes 3D, don't call and don't write, I don't know you. 5. 4C A major suit takeout showing at leat 5-5 in the majors with opening bid values. 6. Dbl. Don't bid 4C which shows the majors. 7. Pass. Not strong enough to bid 3NT and double is for takeout. Pass and hope partner can reopen with a takeout double. #23 True-FALSE SLAM BIDDING QUIZ 1. The proper response to a 4NT Blackwood bid holding all four aces is 5C. 2. When partner asks for aces and you have a void, count the void as an ace. 3. Cue bids always show first round controls. 4. The Blackwood bidder is usually the stronger of the two partnership hands. 5. A direct jump to 5NT bypassing 4NT is a king-ask. 6. When the Blackwood bidder first bids 4NT and then 5NT asking for kings, the responder can leap to seven without answering for kings. 7. The Blackwood bidder will seldom have a void suit. 8. Any jump to 4NT is Blackwood.
ANSWERS 1. True. The 5C response to regular Blackwood ask shows 0 or 4 aces. (Nowadays most play Key Card Blackwood with different responses) 2. False. There are various responses to show a void, but counting the void as an ace is not one of them. 3. False. Not by a long shot. 4. True. The strong hand usually does the asking, the weak hand, the telling. 5. False. It is usually the Grand Slam Force asking partner about trump honors in the agreed suit. 6. True. If the responder can count 13 tricks, he should bid the grand. It is assumed, of course, that the 5NT bid guarantees joint possession of the four aces. 7. True. Say the Blackwood bidder has two aces and a void and gets a one ace response. He may not know which ace partner has. 8. False. If the previous bid was 1NT, 2NT or 3NT, a follow up bid of 4NT by partner is natural, not Blackwood.
#24 SHORT QUIZ (YOU ARE SOUTH) #1 North
South (1) Strong and artificial You hold: S. 843 H. KJ943 D. A5 C. 874 #2 South
North You hold: S. 4 H. A105 D. AK3 C. AQ7432
#3 North
South You hold: S. A4 H. AQJ7 D. 94 C. AKJ54 #4
North South You hold: S. A104 H. AJ432 D. A75 C. 93 #5
South North You hold: S. K9 H. 108 D. AKJ763 C. KJ8 SOLUTIONS #1 4D. Show your partner your control. It may be just what the Dr. ordered. #2 2D. A "fake reverse" to force partner to bid again. Next you will support hearts and partner giving partner a pretty good idea of your hand. A jump to 3C is not forcing and might miss a 5-3 heart fit. #3 5S. A raise to the five level of the last bid major in a sequence where three suits have been bid asks partner to bid slam with a control in the unbid suit. Partner passes lacking first or second round diamond control, bids 5NT with the guarded DK, trots out 6D with the DA and bids six spades with a singleton diamond. #4 2C. The 4th suit to
create a force. A jump to 3D is not forcing and bidding 3NT is bizarre.
After the 4th suit, partner usually bids notrump with a stopper
in that suit. The bid of the 4th suit has nothing to do with your
holding in that suit. It is just a convenient way of foricng partner
to bid again, particularly after having made a one level response.
#5 3NT. A 2NT rebid would shows a minimum type hand, typically 12-14 HCP with at least one club stopper. You are too strong to make such a discouraging rebid. Many would open this hand 1NT to avoid the awkward rebidding problems. #25 U.S TEAM TRIALS QUIZ #1 (You) (Dummy) KQ1086 432 This is your trump suit in a slam contract. The opponents have done no bidding and you have no outside losers. You have unlimited dummy entries. You start with a low card from dummy to the king in your hand which holds. You reenter dummy and lead the suit again. This time second hand plays the 9. Which card do you play? #2 Sitting South with both sides vulnerable, you hold: S. K7 H. KJ75 D.
K953 C. J103 West North East South 2S (1) 3H Pass ? (1) Weak
#3 Still South, with both sides vulnerable, you hold: S. A5 H. - D. AJ9854 C. Q9754 South West North East 1D Pass 1S 2H 3C Passs 3S Pass ? #4 You are West and, vul. vs. not. S. J4 H. AQ9 D. J4 C. AJ10932 South West North East 4D Pass 5D Pass Pass Pass What do you lead? WINNING ACTIONS 1. Play the 10 it is the % play in case East started with AJ9x. 2. Both South players bid 4H and went down. 3NT was the winning action: Partner's hand: S. J102 H. AQ1032 D. A84 C. A2 3. Billy Eisenberg raised to 4S which was made with the help of a defensive errror. 5D would have been a bit easier. Partner's hand: S. KQ10432 H. 65 D. 732 C. K2 4. Paul Soloway led the Ace of clubs and then gave partner a club ruff. The HA was the setting trick. Actually the lead of either ace defeats the contract as long as you give partner a club ruff. .... AND THE WINNER IS? . In this quz you are given a bidding sequence and four possible hands you might hold. Your job is to decide which hand best fits the sequence and what the hands that don't fit the sequence should bid. Ready? Here is the sequence, the four hands beneath. Dlr: South (you) Vul: None South West North East 1C Pass 1H Pass 1S Pass 2D * Pass 2H * 4TH suit. Could be artificial. Shows 11+ HCP.
1. S. AKQ4 H. 10743 D. 62 C. A65 2. S. AJ84 H. AQ3 D. 2 C. A10984 3. S. KQJ4 H. K2 D. 43 C. K8732 4. S. KQ42 H. A2 D. K8 C. J10932 ANSWERS 1. This can't be the right hand. With this hand you raise to 2H directly. 2. This hand is strong enough to jump to 3H over 2D to show extas with three hearts and presumably a singleton diamond. 3. This hand is the winner. This sequence can show a doubleton honor in hearts if no more descriptive rebid is available. One is not supposed to rebid 2NT after the 4th suit without a stopper in the 4th suit. Rebidding a miserable five card suit is also not an option. 4. This hand rebids. 2NT. It has a diamond stopper and 12-14 HCP. With 15-17 HCP and a diamond stopper 3NT is the rebid. #27 And the Winner is ..... Same format as 'A'. You get a sequence and four possible hands to go along with the sequence. Your job is to select the hand that best describes the sequence, but you still aren't off the hook. You also have to decide what the other hands should bid. Assume you are not playing the 2D response as a game force. North East South (you) West 1S Pass 2D * Pass 2H Pass 2NT * Not a game force
1. S. 4 H. AJ4 D. KJ852 C. Q1084 2. S. 4 H. AJ4 D. AQ1087 C. A862 3. S. 42 H. K7 D. AQ1086 C. KJ97
4. S. KQ H. 76 D. AQ432 C. 10843
ANSWERS 1. The winner! The hand is not strong enough to rebid 3NT and raising hearts, a second suit, promises four card support. If you thought you should bid 3C or rebid diamonds, don't mention it. Just don't! 2. This hand could rebid 3NT, but an even better rebid is 3C to find out if partner has five hearts or diamond support. If partner has five hearts, the hand should play in hearts. If partner has three diamonds and a singleton club, there might be a diamond slam. 3. This hand is too strong to rebid 2NT (11-12) and should rebid 3NT. 4. This hand is best described by rebidding 2S. Partner may think you have three spades, but the KQ doubleton will have to do. Furthermore, the return to 2S shows about 11 HCP and is more descriptive than 2NT with such flaky clubs. #28 And the Winner is ...... You should know the rules by now. Here's the sequence and you are South: South West North East 1D Pass 1S Pass 2D Pass 2H Pass 2S Which of these four hands best describes your sequence? 1. S. AQ4 H. 63 D. KQ875 C. K54 2. S. A4 H. 42 D. AQJ9643 C. J4 3. S. A4 H. Q63 D. AK7532 C. 84 4. S. K63 H. 2 D. AQ874 C. QJ76 ANSWERS (You may not like these) 1. This hand raises to 2S directly. If it is against your religion to raise with three trump, change churches or rebid 1NT. 2. This hand rebids 3D to emphasize the seven card suit. 3. The winner. Partner should expect a doubleton spade in this sequence though you might have three little ones with strong diamonds. 4. This is another hand that raises to 2S directly. Rebidding 2C and then supporting spades shows a stronger hand. A hand in the 15-17 point range. Something like this: S. AK3 H. 2 D. AQ874 C. QJ76.
#29 Responding to a jump rebid North (partner) East West (you) South 1C Pass 1H Pass 3C Pass ?
You have the following hands with neither side vulnerable at matchpoints: 1. S. 653 H. AJ932 D. KQ4 C. 74 2. S. 65 H. AKQJ54 D. 543 C. 93 3. S. AQ4 H. KQ76 D. 832 C. 865 4. S. 92 H. K5432 D. QJ87 C. 54 5. S. J1087 H. K8432 D. Q932 C. - What action, if any, do you take?
ANSWERS 1. Try 3D. You are hoping partner can rebid 3NT with a spade stopper. 2. 4H A jump after a jump shows a solid suit with no outside strength. Not everyone plays this way. 3. 3S For the same reason you bid 3D on #1; looking for 3NT. Always looking for 3NT. 4. Pass Just not enough to go on. 5. Pass The club void is a big minus and the rest of your hand is nothing to write home about either. If you bid 3NT, do not mention it in public.
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