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The basis of the bidding (9)* |
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This bidding section is meant for beginners and those players who like to keep it simple. Test your knowledge. | N/All | | | | South 1 | South 2 | | | ♠ | Q 10 7 6 | ♠ | Q 10 8 5 | | | | ♥ | J 4 | ♥ | Q 7 | | | | ♦ | 9 2 | ♦ | Q 10 6 | |
| | ♣ | K J 8 5 4 | ♣ | K Q 9 7 | | |
| West | North | East | South |
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| 1♥ | pass | 1♠ | | pass | 2♦ | pass | ? |
What should South 1 bid? And South 2? |
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Solution
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The basis of the bidding (8)* |
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This bidding section is meant for beginners and those players who like to keep it simple. Test your knowledge. | W/All | | | | South 1 | South 2 | | | ♠ | Q J 8 4 2 | ♠ | A 10 8 2 | | | | ♥ | Q 8 4 | ♥ | K Q 10 | | | | ♦ | K 2 | ♦ | Q 10 9 7 | |
| | ♣ | 7 6 4 | ♣ | A 4 | | |
| West | North | East | South |
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| 1♣ | double | pass | ? |
What should South 1 and South 2 bid? |
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Solution
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Back-to-Back consists of two puzzles (A and B) on the same theme. Yesterday's puzzle 5A and today's puzzle 5B are about: Getting rid of a loser in the side suit | S/— | ♠ | 6 5 4 | | | | ♥ | A 6 3 | | ♦ | A 7 6 | | ♣ | 8 6 5 4 | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | ♠ | A K 3 2 | | | ♥ | K Q J 10 9 | | ♦ | 4 3 | | ♣ | K Q |
| West | North | East | South |
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| — | — | — | 1♥ | | pass | 1NT | pass | 2♠ | | pass | 4♥ | pass | pass | | pass | | | |
West leads the ♦K. How should South play? |
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Solution
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Back-to-Back consists of two puzzles (A and B) on the same theme. Here is puzzle 5A, followed tomorrow by 5B. Getting rid of a loser in the side suit S/—
| ♠ | 8 3 | | | | ♥ | 7 6 | | ♦ | K 5 3 2 | | ♣ | Q J 6 5 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ♠ | A K Q J 9 | | | ♥ | A K Q 3 2 | | ♦ | 4 | | ♣ | 8 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
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| — | — | — | 1♠ | | pass | 1NT | pass | 3♥ | | pass | 3♠ | pass | 4♥1 | | pass | 4♠ | pass
| pass
| | pass | | | |
1 It would be premature to assume that North now has more spades than hearts, or even equal length in the two suits! After all, North may have 2-3 in spades and hearts. With that holding he will give preference to spades (since South can have 5-4: in that case a spade contract in a 5-2 fit is superior to a heart contract in a 4-3 fit!). South's 4♥ bid now informs North that South has five hearts (and at least five spades). If North had given preference for spades with 2-3 in spades and hearts, he would now have passed 4♥
West leads the ♦Q. Declarer ducks in dummy and West continues with the ♦J. Again declarer ducks in dummy, East completing a 'come-on' signal. How should South play? |
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Solution
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| W/All | | | ♠ | 7 6 | | | ♥ | K J 9 8 | | | ♦ | A 10 6 5 | | | ♣ | K 9 6 | |
West opens met 1♣, 1♦, 1♥, 1♠ or 1NT (15-17) respectively.
Each and every time your partner doubles and East passes.
What is your bid as South? |
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Solution
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Back-to-Back consists of two puzzles (A and B) on the same theme. Yesterday's puzzle 4A and today's puzzle 4B are about: Blockage N/EW
| ♠ | A 3 2 | | | | ♥ | 10 7 2 | | ♦ | Q 8 5 3 | | ♣ | A K Q | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ♠ | K Q J 10 9 | | | ♥ | J | | ♦ | J 6 | | ♣ | J 10 9 4 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
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| — | 1♦1 | pass | 1♠ | | pass | 1NT | pass | 2♠2 | | pass | 3♠3 | pass | 4♠ | | pass | pass | pass | |
1 One point deducted in view of the unfavourable 4-3-3-3 distribution; therefore no 1NT opening
2 2♣ is not recommended, though it — correctly — shows five clubs (since North has denied four clubs); North may even expect six clubs. The reason is that is commonly agreed that South should not bid 2♣ if he has five spades. As a consequence North will not correct to 2♠ if he has three spades (not even if he has only two clubs). So South prefers to bid 2♠, even though this bid suggests six spades.
3 With six (!) spades to the ♠KQ and nothing else in South, North can count nine tricks already, so he tries for ten tricks
Perhaps North overdid it, but thanks to the unexpected club fit and South having only three red cards/losers (North really is in luck...) the contract turns out to be fine.
West leads the ♥K and continues the suit, South ruffing.
This looks to be a piece of cake: declarer has lost a heart trick and will lose two diamond tricks, nothing more — or so it seems. He plays the ♠A, EW following suit. Next comes the ♠K, West discarding a club.
How should declarer play? |
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Solution
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