Bidding Quiz BRIDGE

You are South, neither side vulnerable, and the bidding has gone:

West North East South

1 ♥ Dble Redble ?

What would you bid with each of the following six hands?

1. ♠ 952 ♥ 874 ♦ 63 ♣ KJ962

2. ♠ Q864 ♥ 97632 ♦ 74 ♣ 85

3. ♠ J73 ♥ 105 ♦ Q852 ♣ Q974

4. ♠ QJ543 ♥ A72 ♦ 10983 ♣ 6

5. ♠ J65 ♥ QJ93 ♦ Q95 ♣ J32

6. ♠ QJ98742 ♥ 10 ♦ J84 ♣ 83

***

1. Two clubs. Partner’s takeout double has asked you to choose one of the three unbid suits, but after East’s redouble, you do not have to say anything since partner has another chance to bid. However, in this situation, a pass by you would imply that you had no real preference for any of the three suits. For this reason, you should bid two clubs at this point because it’s the only one of the three suits that you can tolerate. Also, the two-club bid might help your partner find the best opening lead.

2. One spade. This is the same idea as in the previous problem. If you were to pass, you’d run the risk that partner might bid two clubs or two diamonds. You bid spades now to try to keep your side out of trouble.

3. Pass. This time you should let your partner select the suit, since you have moderate support for any suit he chooses.

4. Two spades. The jump-response indicates that you’re bidding from strength and not from fright. It indicates a mild interest in game but is not forcing.

5. One notrump. This is not a weakness bid — in general, you don’t answer a takeout double with one notrump when you hold a weak hand. The purpose of the notrump call is to advise partner that you have a balanced hand with one or two heart stoppers, as well as a smattering of other values.

6. Three spades. This is a preemptive bid, pure and simple. Its primary purpose is to cramp the opponents’ bidding in the hope that they may fail to reach their best contract. At the same time, it might induce partner to bid four spades either as a sacrifice against, say, four hearts, or as a genuine attempt to make game.

Tomorrow: Tug of war.