Few places to play, so take this quiz to stay sharp
With few places available for bridge fans to play in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, card fans are looking for other ways to sharpen their game.
The Greenwich Adult and Continuing Education program will offer three virtual bridge classes via the computer: Beginner, Advanced Beginner and Intermediate/Duplicate. For further information, call 203-625-7474 or visit www.GreenwichACE.com.
And don’t forget to tackle our weekly quiz.
Today’s quiz: Continuing
with the current series on overcalls and takeout doubles, here is another quiz on answering a takeout double. In the following problem, neither side is vulnerable and your left-hand opponent (the dealer) opens with one diamond. Partner doubles and the next player passes. What do you do with the hand shown and why? Your hand:
S 83 H AJ752 D 764 C K93
Answer: When a player makes a takeout double, he realizes he is forcing his partner to bid with what may be a worthless hand. Therefore, if his partner answers with a non-jump bid in a suit, he must allow for the possibility that the responder may hold no points and no appreciable length in the suit bid. For this reason, the doubler has to be very cautious about taking another bid with minimal values (13 to 15 points) for his double after receiving a non-jump response.
Consequently, responder is obliged to show when he actually has “something” rather than nothing. What constitutes something? Well, responder should begin to think about making more than a minimum response with seven or eight highcard points and a fivecard or longer suit, or nine high-card points and any kind of suit.
Positive responses include a one notrump bid, a single jump in a suit or notrump (both invitational), a jump to game in a suit or notrump, or a cuebid in the opponent’s suit. The purpose of making any of these responses is not just to reach a possible game (or slam), but also to allow partner to compete intelligently on partscore deals.
With the given hand, therefore, responder must bid two hearts so that if the doubler has more than a minimum, game may be reached. Holding something like S Kxxx H KQxx
D xx C AQx, partner is sure to pass a one heart response by you, fearing that you may have a worthless hand. Then, if the spade ace is in the opener’s hand, as it figures to be, you will have missed a game. Even if partner declines this mild invitation, you should have no trouble making eight tricks.
Finally, the two heart bid also makes it more difficult for the opponents to compete while making it easier for your partner to make the best decision if they do.