2011 Quiz Answers

Questions based on modern duplicate bridge. Do come on any of our bridge holidays or bridge breaks, to experience Andrew's bridge seminars to take part in our bridge quizzes or just to enjoy our brand of bridge holidays abroad or our bridge holidays in the UK.

Open to All

1) Bidding

You are dealt. S 8 5 H A Q J 6 5 D A K J 4 C A 2 You open 1 H. What is your rebid if partner responds:

a)   1S
b)   1NT
c)    2C

Clearly you want to play in game even if partner has a minimum response. Therefore:

     1) 3D Jump shift game forcing
     2) 3D Jump shift game forcing
     3) 2D The point of this is that after a two level change of suit a simple change of suit is forcing for one round. If that surprises you try to construct a hand that would want to bid 2C and then pass 2D. Perhaps 9 points with a singleton heart? With that hand you should have responded 1NT on the first round! What would a jump to 3D mean? Some pairs play it to show a 5 - 5 shape. For others it is a splinter bid agreeing clubs. It certainly doesn't show your hand.

2) Declarer Play

You are playing in 6NT. The lead is S J. How do you plan the play

S Q 4 3                                      S A K 6
H A K Q 2                                 H 7 6 5
D 7 4 3                                       D A K Q 2
C A K 3                                     C 8 4 2

The full layout is

                         S J 10 9
                         H J 10 8 4
                         D J 10 8 6
                         C9 6

                         S 8 7 5 4 2
                         H 9 4
                         D 9 5
                         C Q J 10 7 5

Suppose you cash your 5 black suit winners. Ignoring South, who has retained his clubs the remaining cards are:

                         S -
                         H J 10 8 4
                         D J 10 8 6
                         C -

S -                                              S
H A K Q 2                                 H 7 6 5
D 7 4 3                                       D A K Q 2
C 3                                             C 8

There has been no squeeze on North.
Now look at the same diagram with the 3C missing from West's hand and 8C missing from East's hand. East and West have 7 cards each. North has 8 cards, clearly impossible. North will already have been squeezed.
The Squeeze works if you take the AS at trick 1 and immediately duck a club, called rectifying the count. When you regain the lead cash the rest of your black winners. If either red suit breaks 3 - 3 you have an easy twelfth trick. If the same defender has length in both red suits he will be squeezed.
There is an important principle here that might help you recognise such squeeze positions. You need 12 tricks. That means you can afford to lose one trick. A squeeze is likely to work better if you have already lost that trick because it gives the potential victim less slack. Rectifying the count may sound complex but in fact it explains itself: You need to find a way to lose a trick without harming yourself. The count of needing to win 12 tricks out of the remaining 12 is wrong: It needs rectifying

3) Defence

What would you lead as West from the hand below after the auction shown?

                    S K 7
                    H A 3 2
                    D A 9 8 4 2
                    C A 5 4

S        W         N          E
1NT      P         3NT    P
P           P

Here is the full layout.

                         S A Q 3
                         H Q 6
                         D Q J 10
                         C Q 9 7 6 2

S K 7                                    S 8 6 5 4 2
H A 3 2                                 H 9 8 7 4
D A 9 8 4 2                           D 6 5 3
C A 5 4                                 C 8

                         S J 10 9
                         H K J 10 5
                         D K 7
                         C K J 10 3

One of the immovable principles of bridge is that you should not mislead partner in defence. However here it is unlikely to matter as he is marked as having too few high cards to influence the play. In that case might you profitably mislead declarer?
If you lead the standard 4D and then show the 2D you make it obvious that diamonds are 5 - 3. Declarer will drive out the AC and then might decide to take the successful spade finesse for his contract. Suppose instead you lead the 2D. Declarer will believe that diamonds are breaking 4 - 4, so it will seem safe to drive out the AC and AH rather than rely on the spade finesse. That allows you to take 5 tricks.