2009 Quiz Answers

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1) Bidding

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What should be South's rebid after the auction shown with each of these hands?

a)      S Q 3 2          H 4           D K Q 9 6 5         C A J 3 2
b)      S Q 3 2          H 4           D A K 6 5 2         C A Q 3 2
c)      S 4 3 2           H A          D A K 6 5 2         C A Q 3 2

S     W     N     E
1D    P     1S   P
?

Answer
a) 2S. Suppose you bid 2C. Partner either gives preference to 2D or maybe bids 2NT. With a minimum opening you must pass and your spade fit is lost forever.

b) 2C. Now you are too strong for 2S and a jump to 3S is certainly wrong with only 3 card support. Rebid 2C if partner bids on (eg. 2D or 2NT) you are strong enough to bid spades showing 3 card support and a better than minimum opening.

c) 2C. The same as b). The point here is that although you have plenty to spare you are not strong enough for a game forcing jump shift to 3C. If partner passes 2C you are very unlikely to have missed game.

2) Declarer Play

You have bid aggressively to 7 spades.
West leads the C J can you see any chance of success?

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

                        S A K Q J 10 9 8
                        H A
                        D Q 3
                        C A K Q

You require the two missing red kings to be in the same hand. Win the Ace of clubs and run off the rest of your black winners. With East still to discard this is the position.

                        S
                        H Q 3
                        D A
                        C

                                     S
      West hand               H K 10
      immaterial                D K 10
                                     C

                        S
                        H A
                        D Q 3
                        C

East must discard one of his red tens, un guarding the king. Cash the Ace of that suit and use the other red Ace to get to your queen. This is called a criss - cross squeeze.

3) Defence

You cash the heart Ace against South's spade game, East playing the queen. What is the minimum partner can have in order to beat this contract and what is your defensive plan?

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

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

S        W         N          E
            1H        Dbl        2H
2S        3H        4S         P
P          P          P

Of course East's HQ shows the HJ. You could try under leading your HK at trick 2, but that is a pointless exercise because you know the direction the defence must take. You need partner to have at least doubleton spade 10 X. Continue with the HK and a third heart. The ruff - and - discard does declarer no good because he has no side suit losers. When you regain the lead with the spade Ace you can play a fourth heart. Partner will ruff with the S10 and promote your SJ into the fourth defensive trick.