Alisdair's Quiz, A fun, yet challenging, quiz by Ali

Hi all,

David did encourage us to post our own competitions/quizzes on here so I thought I, in my usual flambouyant style, would give it a go. This is NOT an attempt to hijack his quizzes; I strongly encourage you to try his first but please give this one a go as well.

Entries - EVERYONE IS ALLOWED TO ENTER. I especially hope David will enter so that some of his juniors can compete with him Of course, special commendation to top U25 and U20 etc. There will always be 9 questions, split into 3 sections; Bidding, Defence, Declarer Play. One point for every question you attempt, plus a bonus point if you attempt all 9. That's 10 easy points! The 9 questions will each be worth 10 points = 100 points in total per round. 1 point off for skipping an entire section. Email me your answers (my Email address is in my profile; if you happen to have one of my addresses already you can use that; I'll check them all). Don't post your answers in a reply or everyone entering can see them! Also, Email me if you have queries concerning the questions/ want an extention to the deadline etc.

Answers - OK, so I'm not the world's best Bridge player. I fully expect "better" players to take part. However, 2 things: I have "official" answers in mind, and I am willing to admit mistakes. If someone enters with an answer I think is better than the "official" answer, that replaces the "official" answer. In any case, there isn't a holiday in Mallorca offered as first prize so no arguing!

To give you an idea what I'm looking for:
- On the bidding questions you and your partner can be playing your favoured system, providing it is a registered system (or Interchange), and not something you have brought in specifically to tackle the question. (For example, you cannot say: I would make Bid X because that shows the exact 13 cards I actually have etc) This must of course also be within the constraints you are given in the question, as it may state you are playing Acol, for example. Always justify your answer, and where appropriate say what action you would expect partner to take in response.
- On the defence questions you will usually be asked to give a plan. This involves mapping out the hands and coming up with a line that is either guaranteed to work or the most likely chance to work.
- On the play questions, you have to state your plan for most eventualities. I will allow for some really strange layouts being negligible, but certainly do NOT say: "The suit is definitely going to split 3-3 so I can cash my AKQ and then I have all the winners in that suit"

Generally, I will not complain about too much detail. (David must be relishing the prospect of bamboozling me with essays of answers to get his own back! )

Ali

ROUND 1

SECTION A - BIDDING

Question 1:

An entertaining one to kick off with. You are Dealer, All Red. You hold:

K
AKQJ
AKQJ
AKQJ

What do you bid and why?

Question 2:

Okay, now to hands you are more likely to come across. You are Red against Green. LHO is dealer, and opens 1 Heart. Partner bids 2 Diamonds, which is Intermediate. RHO raises to 4 Hearts, and you know from their methods this means a 9 card fit. You hold:

K72
963
A
KQJ765

You pass, (so the first part of this question is should you have done, if not say what you should have done and why), LHO passes, partner bids 4 spades. RHO passes; what do you do now?

Question 3:

All Vulnerable, You hold:

Q9743
98
AKQ
Q76

Your opponents are bidding Interchange. RHO opens 1 Club, which is Alerted. You overcall 1 Spade, which shows opening points and a 5 card suit. LHO doubles. Your partner competes with 2 Spades, which is (relatively) weak and does not expect you to go on. (ie 2 spades has chances but 4 doesn't). RHO doubles - over to you.

SECTION B - DEFENCE

Question 4:

Bidding Acol, Your LHO opened 1 Diamond, RHO responded 1 Heart, LHO jumped to 2NT, RHO rebid Hearts with 3 Hearts, and LHO insists on 3NT. Your partner does not find the killer lead, opting for the Ten of Spades, which is top of a run with no honour. I am unsure about how to use the Code Box, so here is your hand:

J732
KT2
62
AJT7

Meanwhile, Dummy goes down:

54
AQJ943
984
Q9

Yes, I know you're going to lose the first trick, but still at this point I ask you to: Plan the Defence!

Question 5:

This is an actual hand that occurred in a prestigious tournament. I'm not giving any more details to remove the temptation of looking it up!

You are Red against Green. Partner is Dealer.
Partner opens a weak 2 Diamonds. RHO jumps straight to 4 Spades. You pass, LHO bids 5 Clubs, partner passes, RHO bids 5 diamonds, LHO signs off in 5 spades. You hold:

J643
K83
6
JT842

This time I am not asking you to plan the defence (well not exactly). What I am asking is what should you lead and why?

SECTION C - DECLARER PLAY (All Slams this round!)

Question 6:

6NT by South.

NORTH
K43
AJ8
AQ4
QJ54

SOUTH
AT2
KT7
K92
AKT4

On this hand, your LHO opened 3S which has a bizarre meaning. It promises 7 spades but says nothing about points. So you can forget about placing the Queen of hearts based on the bidding. Despite this bid, you are not prevented from bidding to 6NT with 34 points between you and partner. West leads the Queen of Spades.

Plan the play.

Question 7:

VOID
T85
KQT76432
A8

AKJ8542
AKJ32
VOID
Ten

In each of these Declarer questions you are South, and Declarer, and the hand that comes first is the North hand (ie here dummy has the spade void and you have the diamond void).

6 Hearts by South, 3 of clubs lead. Plan the play.

Question 8:

AKT4
K2
KQJ965
J

872
AJT7
A743
K2

East overcalled Spades at one point but you are playing in 6 Diamonds. Sure enough, the 3 of spades is led. Plan the play.

Question 9:

K65
K7
K863
A543

A9
AQ3
AJ42
KQJ6

After opening 2NT, partner puts you straight to 6. The Queen of Spades is led. Plan the play.

Good luck to all who attempt this Quiz. Almost 3 weeks to do it - answers to me by Saturday 10th January 2009 (inclusive)

Well, well well... Marking people's entries have been interesting. I look forward to marking Round 2. Unfortunately, I'm not posting that just yet, as I have given extensions to a few people and am still waiting on some answers. I've been very forthcoming with extensions; one reason being that I didn't realise I'd set the deadline for the weekend of the first Camrose weekend. D'oh! If anyone else wants to enter let me know pronto. The entries I have received so far have been, on the whole, impressive. Looking forward to the rest

ROUND 2

My exams are approaching fast, so I want to get this written before then, even though I have not had all the entries for round 1 yet. When I do, I shall post the results for Round 1, but in the mean time, I'm opening up Round 2. We can't be held back by the slowcoaches. Anyway, I'm giving PLENTY time for Round 2 (for some of you it's time to finish Round 1 and then Round 2) A month from today is Valentine's Day, and the week after (I believe) is the Junior Camrose and Peggy Bayer. So I'm setting the deadline a week AFTER that, (Saturday 28th February) so I won't be so easy-going with the extensions this time, as there is a month and a half to do it. (This deadline is inconvenient for anyone who attends St. Margaret's school for girls in Aberdeen; I shall take that into account if I get pleas for extensions from anyone from there) PLEASE can I have the remaining entries for Round 1 by Saturday? I'll be generous and say that even those who previously hadn't been going to enter have until then. After that, it's all about Round 2.

ROUND 2 QUESTIONS

SECTION A - BIDDING

Question 1:

You hold:

AQJ86432
A
Q
AKQ

RHO opens a weak 2 Diamonds. What do you bid and why? (I don't think the vulnerability matters on this one, but if it would affect your bid, get in touch and I'll tell you what the vulnerability is)

Question 2:

All Red, What do you open with this hand? (And why?)

98753
-
AKQJ
KQ64

Question 3:

All Red, you hold:

AT2
KQJ
KQ72
AQ6

RHO opens 1 Heart. I will grant you two things: Because of your system, double is not the right bid, and 2NT is not the right bid. It shouldn't be too difficult to work out why, but 2 marks each for telling me the most likely reason this is the case. The final 6 marks are for getting the correct bid. And just so you're not confused, this question has NOTHING to do with Interchange!

SECTION B - DEFENCE

Question 4:

You hold:

J43
T976
32
AJ43

RHO opens 1NT, which is 17-19. You pass, and LHO decides to punt 3NT, which is passed. You lead the 3 of clubs, and dummy goes down:

875
853
A95
Q985

Declarer plays 5 from dummy, and partner plays the 6, which forces out the King. Declarer then plays up to the 9D, you playing the 3 to give Standard Count, and partner beats the 9 with the Queen. Partner then plays the King of Spades, Declarer ducks with the 6 from hand and the 5 from dummy, you playing the 3. Partner then plays the 2 of spades, Declarer plays the Ten.

Plan the Defence.

Question 5:

All Red, you hold:

K3
T3
AQ873
A953

Playing Acol, you open 1 Diamond. LHO overcalls an Intermediate 1 Heart, all pass. Partner leads the 5 of diamonds, which in your methods is his highest diamond. Dummy goes down:

QT742
Q2
KT9
QJ6

Declarer plays a low diamond from dummy, and hoping your partner has a doubleton or even singleton you win with the queen and cash the Ace. Under the Queen Declarer plays the 6, and under the Ace he plays the Jack, partner playing the 2.

Plan the Defence

SECTION C - DECLARER PLAY

After all those Slams last Round, I thought I'd bring things down to earth with some nice part scores (I can practically hear the collective groan). The first one is constructed, but the other 3 are all actual deals.

Question 6:

OK, you're playing for Scotland when this hand comes up:

A76
7652
AK42
K4

LHO is Dealer, and there are 3 passes. You open 1NT, which is passed. Here is dummy's hand:

T84
AQJT
9753
82

LHO leads the King of spades, and RHO plays the 2, giving Standard Count. You decide to duck, and LHO continues with the Jack of spades.

Plan the play.

Question 7:

T82
T65
K762
873

KQ6
AK
AJT8
Q965

You are playing this in 1NT. The 4 of spades is led from LHO, and you play the Ten from dummy. This is covered by the Jack.

Plan the play.

Question 8:

Two "Contract of Death" hands to finish with, I'm afraid

A73
K8754
963
65

J82
J2
AT4
AKJT3

2NT by South, King of Diamonds lead. Plan the play.

Question 9:

AK43
T3
AJ82
854

JT95
KJ85
T4
AK9

Here, as South, playing Interchange, I open 1 Spade. Partner responds 3 Spades, which has the same meaning as the Acol 1S-3S (10-12 points and 4 card support). With a minimum 12, I pass (good idea). My counterparts at the other table could well be in 4, down 2. I don't intend making only 8 tricks though, even though the opps find the best lead: 2 of clubs to dummy's 4 and East's Jack.

Plan the play.

soo, when can i know what i should have done in round 1?

ROUND 1 RESULTS AND ANSWERS

OK, time to put everybody out of their misery. There are a few general points I'd like to make. Firstly, well done to everyone who entered. Secondly, there WILL be easier questions to come in the course of this quiz (although you couldn't really have got much easier than Q1 in this round); so if these questions look terrifying at the moment, don't worry - there is light at the end of the tunnel. The alternative is to put up a really easy quiz and sit back and watch as Phil (there are two "Phil"s and technically this comment could apply to both) and Frazer get 100% in their sleep. Thirdly - I know some of you will disagree with the answers. It's bound to happen, not everybody has the same philosophy. These questions and answers are checked with an anonymous third party, as are the scores where applicable. This was my first go at creating a quiz like this and one or two of the questions could have been worded better. However, since it looks like first prize is going to amount to little more than me buying you a drink next time I see you, I really don't think it's worth arguing about. The answers will not be so ambiguous from here on in, however.

Without further ado, onto the scores. I'd like to say congratulations to Russell Ainslie who is our leader after Round 1. This is a guy who has only been playing Bridge for a few months; to top-score this was a tremendous coup for him. Let's hope he keeps up the good work A close second was Phil Stephens who got full marks on more questions than anyone else. Also in the top half is Abigail. The placings just go to show how tight things can be; Julie was 4th but the only person to get Q8 completely right. Frazer didn't send in answers, I think in part owing to Exams, but rather than give him nothing, I marked two questions based on comments he made to me on BBO (half of Q2 and Q9 - so technically he got full marks on what he entered, so if he enters fully for the remaining rounds, don't expect him to come bottom; 5th-placed Jun, you have been warned! ) Here are the full results (my first attempt at using the Code Box):

That done (phew!), onto the answers:

ANSWER 1:

You need to make a forcing bid. 2C GF is the obvious choice. This is particularly useful for those who play Schenken. On the actual deal, your LHO would bid 6 spades, and your partner would have no problem bidding 7C - a good sacrifice.

ANSWER 2:

A lot of ambiguity here. I wasn't just interested in the bids you would choose, but the arguments for it. First time round, pass, double or 5 Clubs are reasonable. Second time round, on the basis that you should probably have bid 5 Clubs the first time, bid it then, or pass 4 spades as it's a good contract. It's misguided to go slam-hunting. Partner has 4 spades (NOT any more than that - he could have bid Michaels/Unusual 2NT otherwise) and an Intermediate hand. Give him AQ of spades and Ace of clubs, plus King of diamonds which he almost certainly has, and you need a 3-3 break to have a chance of 6 making with an almost certain heart loser.

ANSWER 3:

Ambiguous here too, and no credit was given to those who didn't account for the Interchange bidding. The 1C bid you could look up on the forum, the doubles you had plenty time to Email me and ask me. No surprise the Aberdonians did better on this one. If you'd taken into account the bidding, you would know partner has made a rather ambitious 2S bid. RHO has shown a 5 card major, and his double tells you that major is SPADES. Uh-oh. If you use Redouble as "rescue me", now is a good time to use it - LHO will pass the double. LHO's double was 6-10 points - 2 spades is getting slaughtered. Depending on the system passing was reasonable, but only if you genuinely had no alternative.

ANSWER 4:

The key to this is blocking the heart suit from Declarer. When he finesses the heart, which he almost certainly does, duck first time. He may well finesse again expecting to win - the point is you let him have a maximum of 2 heart tricks and not the 5 he would get if you rose first time. You have the club suit controlled as well; don't take the king if he plays it; save that ace for beating the queen. Partner has two diamond tricks (KJ) to set the contract.

ANSWER 5:

Partner seems to have the Ace of Hearts, and that is the suit you should lead. But that is only half the logic; you should lead the King. If you lead up to partner's ace, he may think you are void in diamonds and return a diamond. Don't give him the chance to make this mistake. You also have an almost certain spade trick to come, which will bring the contract down.

ANSWER 6:

Well, this may be a tough quiz, but this answer is just about 100%. Win the first spade and cash all your minors. You are left with three hearts and two spades. Have you been watching West's discards? If he made a discard on both minor suits you know it is 100%. Count the spades. If he has three left, cash Ace of hearts in dummy and you can finesse round, knowing that if you lose it West is endplayed in spades. If West has a minor left, he doesn't have more than 1 heart at the 5-card position and so your finesse will certainly win. If he has two spades left, because he's been discarding them, cash your remaining spade trick and exit a spade for a heart endplay.

ANSWER 7:

The key to this is knowing how suits are likely to behave. You have a line that works every time trumps are 3-2 or 2-3 and spades are no worse than 4-2/2-4. Decent odds. Win the first club and ruff a club. Ruff a spade, ruff a diamond, and ruff another spade. Play the remaining heart off table and rise with the Ace, and cash the King. Seeing both opponents follow both times, you know you're home and dry. The queen didn't fall but that's OK. Cash spades from the top until the Queen of hearts ruffs. You still have a ruff to get in, and can cash remaining spades for 12 tricks.

ANSWER 8:

This is a very debatable one, I admit, but after reconsidering about 99 times, and substantial debate with Phil, I'm sticking with the "official" answer, which is this:

Win the first spade (well that's trivial; if you don't you then lose a club and a spade ruff), and draw diamonds. They take 3 rounds to draw as West has 3. You should end in dummy. Cash the King of hearts and play up to the Jack of hearts, a finesse against the hand that bid, which wins. Then cash the Ace of hearts, discarding a club. You can now afford to lose one spade.

The line of exiting a club was popular. What it comes down to is this: Where is the queen of hearts? Granted, East does not HAVE to have it for his bid if he is an aggressive overcaller, but you have no evidence to make an assumption that West has it. East has overcalled QJ9 high in spades. West most certainly doesn't have two queens. He either has 0 or 1. You benefit every time it is 0 (50%), or every time the one queen is the club queen (50% of the other 50%) - roughly 75%. Taking the CORRECT variables into the equation, the odds favour the finesse. You could argue finessing is actually 66% - I'd accept that, but 66% is still better than 33%. Not that it matters, but the official line is also the only way to make 13!

ANSWER 9:

Nothing debatable here; it's a simple matter of safety play. Win the King of spades and play up to the Ace of diamonds. You're laughing if 9 or 10 was played by East. Even if it wasn't, play a small diamond up to dummy with a view to finessing the 8. If this finesse loses, you have all the rest of the tricks as diamonds broke. If West shows out, you don't finesse the 8, but play the King and then a small diamond through East's Queen. This line guarantees 3 diamond tricks whenever they break even, and also picks up most 4-1 splits as well, the exception to this being West having QT9x.

...And that concludes Round 1. Thanks for the entries, please do not be disheartened if you have a low score; please continue entering - and if you didn't enter Round 1 and are reading this please enter from here on in - unless you're me, of course, because that would be - enough Alisdair! I promise there will be easy (or easier) questions to come; there will also be some straight out of the top drawer. (That doesn't mean "hard", that means "quality question") I also promise that the answers will be less ambiguous. Certainly there will not be the high level of personal preference we saw in this round - although of course that cannot be guaranteed in the bidding section owing to different systems.

Good luck with Round 2!

I did tell you 9 was tricky to get 100% on and I would be impressed if anyone got it. I think detailing the correct safety play is good enough for a 10 but watch me try for an 11.

If you play a diamond towards the ace and both hands follow low then when you lead the next diamond towards the K8x and lefty puts in the 9 or T then you should duck.

Why?

Well if lefty has started with QJT87 ??? QT9x ???? then running the remaining suits ending with the 3rd heart will squeeze East and bring home the contract.

Told you it wasnt easy.

Anyone else fully detail the correct line

Haha, nice one Frazer
Pity it was a bit overdue; hope you get all your replies in for Round 2
You should have seen Russell's answer on that one... I dread to think how long it took him to write but if it was as long as it took me to read even HALF of it I should've given him 20 marks
I am posting a reply here for a big reason... I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to Myles. He also entered, but I had not been anticipating entries via forum-message. It seems to me he entered well on time, above board etc so I will go and mark his answers now. Why didn't I mark them before I made this post? I wanted to apologise immediately for my mistake! I shall add his score in an edit.

And here is the edit.
Myles scored a very respectable 55.
I'm not putting up the whole box again; here are the standings after Round 1:

Russell: 74
Phil S: 68
Abigail: 56
Myles: 55
Julie: 44
Jun: 36
Frazer: 17

A magnificent 7 entries I'm hoping that total increases after the next round... anyone reckon we can maybe get to double figures?

Just a quick post to keep this forum visible... Just a reminder that the closing date for Round 2 is Saturday 28th January... that way I might be able to get most people's results to them the following day on BBO.

Also, I noticed that TECHNICALLY Frazer should have got 16 for Round 1 as you're supposed to get one point off for skipping an entire section. This does seem a bit cruel in context, so as he "tried for 11" on Q9 I shall give him a bonus for that thus negating his defecit

Remember to get in touch if you have any queries etc or want to apply for an extension. Good luck to all who enter

ROUND 2 RESULTS AND ANSWERS

So here they are at last; the results and answers to Round 2. Disappointingly, despite the considerable amount of time given, there were only 3 entries. I'm hoping for a vast improvement from Round 3 onwards. (Round 3 is as good a round as any to get involved). I'd rather be hard-pressed to find the time to mark the copius amounts of entries I get than spend a few minutes marking a couple. Also, another small matter - no marks off for skipping a section. This does not mean it is advisable to skip a section; I am lifting it simply because someone who entered could get marks off when anyone that didn't gets 0; that seems unfair.

So, results. Very well done to Abigail who top-scored this round with a very impressive score of 79. She has brought herself right into the race for First place with this score, although is still trailing our current leader, Russell, as he once again answered very well and scored 71. Julie is living proof that entries are rewarded; she has leap-frogged Myles and Phil into third place despite not scoring that well. I must admit it is interesting though; our so-called favourites are playing catch-up.

ANSWERS

Q1

It doesn't look like you have more than two losers with spades as trump and the question is whether a slam is there. Normally, you would look no further than a double but what about 5 Spades? Unless you actually have an agreement in place it shouldn't mean anything other than: "I can make this; raise me if you can eliminate one of my losers." On the actual hand if you double LHO will raise to 5 Diamonds and partner is guessing if your 5S overcall is strong.

Q2

This is straightforward - open 1 Spade, length before strength. Guarantee yourself a proper rebid. The exception to this is if you play Interchange - Abigail got an easy 10 points with the Interchange 2 Diamonds, which shows 5-4-4. Who said this was difficult?

Q3

Double probably promises 4 spades based on the information you're given, although I accepted "shows other suits" as well. 2NT is surely some sort of Unusual 2NT - showing 5-5 in two other suits. Doubling nonetheless was popular, but if that's not your system you could end up in a mess. Your alternative is to punt 3NT and if it goes wrong use it as a good reason to make the case to partner double could show a big hand OR 4 spades.

Q4

It doesn't take too much working out to figure Declarer actually has 9 tricks if he plays it right. Thus the only hope you have is that you make him go wrong. Having not falsecarded a diamond, it looks like he's going to guess diamonds right so what do you do? Winning the Jack of spades is a no-brainer. You could return a spade, hoping Declarer tackles diamonds and not clubs, or you could play through a small club to set up tricks that way. You seem to be hoping Declarer won't read the diamond situation but returning a spade caters for this if he does this first. Thus, technically returning a spade has best chance of success.

Q5

You have got two diamond tricks. Even if you get two tricks from both black suits you will need a ruff. Does this mean you should play through a diamond? No. If Declarer has only two, he draws trumps and your ruffing potential is gone. That figured, you know you need partner to have the Ace of spades to have a hope - and there's actually a decent chance partner has it if you think about it. So, cash the Ace of Clubs and then the King of spades. Play a small spade to partner's ace. You cashed the Ace of clubs for a reason - if partner has the King he will cash it before returning a spade for you to ruff. If he doesn't have the king of clubs, you have to hope partner only had two diamonds.

Q6

Take the spade before they knock out your King of Clubs. Now what? At pairs you would take the obvious line of finessing a heart and hoping for the best, but I specifically said you're playing for Scotland to emphasise the scenario you are playing teams. Thus, the objective is to make your contract, which is only threatened if LHO has the Ace of Clubs. If he does, he has Ace of Clubs and KQJ of spades in a passed hand. Therefore, he cannot have the King of hearts. So, if the Ace of Clubs is offside, so is the King of Hearts. Thus, you cash your Ace of Hearts and play another one. If the King was onside your contract still has chances. On the actual deal you are rewarded as the singleton King falls.

Q7

There are two lines of play available to you dependant on whether or not you duck the first trick. It's all about if you compliment your decision with your subsequent play.

Line 1 - If you duck.
If you duck you are playing to block the spade suit, and thus you are playing for the extra chance that LHO doesn't get in. Presumably a spade is fired back and when you win, play Jack of diamonds with a view to running it. If it loses you can still hope that AK of clubs is on your right. It is covered but you rise with the King and smile when diamonds break 3-2.

Line 2 - If you win.
You don't want RHO to get in this time so play a small diamond up to the King and finesse the Ten. Hopefully 50% is good enough. It might lose but just maybe LHO will be kind enough to play another spade, or have AK of clubs.

Q8

Those in 1NT could be coming off but there is one, and only one, line for 2NT to make. You can see that you will need all 5 club tricks to be winners, as you have only one spade and two diamonds if you're lucky. Win the first or second round of diamonds (dependent on East's cards). Unless they've gifted you a diamond entry to dummy, you need the Ace of hearts onside. So, finesse the heart and it holds. (Or West rises but he can't squeeze you with diamonds) Once you get in with the King, finesse the club. Cross to the ace of spades and finesse again to cater for the 4-2 club break. Finessing twice is the best way to play the club suit for 5 tricks.

Q9

There are so many lines available here after the obvious winning of the first trick. If the spade finesse makes then the contract makes, but if it makes it still makes later. This question is all about timing. If one of four finesses works it makes. Start with the diamonds - run the ten. If an honour covers then take the ace and run the ten of hearts, thus maximising your chances of a club pitch. You need it if the finesses don't work. You're setting up tricks in the process. Don't draw trumps until the job is done otherwise you have mistimed. If you lose to a diamond honour at trick 2 then when the Jack wins the 2nd finesse you cash the Ace before pitching a club on the ace of diamonds, but don't shorten the suit otherwise.

Almost midnight - phew!

I will probably post Round 3 on Thursday.

Until then...

ROUND 3

Assume you are playing teams unless told otherwise. Closing Date: Saturday 11th April. Extensions on request with good reason.

SECTION A - BIDDING

Question 1:

This is a question that appeared in a bidding quiz by Bernard Magee in the "BRIDGE" magazine. I don't mind telling you that, as looking it up to see what his answer is won't get you the marks on this question - a hint as to why it appears here. See if you agree. You are playing 'Standard Acol' with a weak No-Trump. Love All. Partner is Dealer and opens 1 Spade. RHO passes. You hold:

KQ76
4
765
K8432

What do you bid and why?

Question 2:

Game All, you hold:

A2
QJT9
8
AKJT76

Playing 15-17 Acol with three weak twos, partner opens 1 Heart. You respond 3 Clubs, showing Slam Interest and 6 clubs. Partner raises to 4 Clubs. What now?

Question 3:

Game All, you hold:

AKQ87632
AJT
4
K

What do you open and why?

SECTION B - DEFENCE

Question 4:

As East, You hold:

QJ74
AKQT54
7
87

South opens 1 Heart, North responds 1 Spade, South rebids 2 Diamonds and North jumps to 3NT. You and partner pass throughout.

What do you lead and why?

Question 5:

LHO opens a 12-14 1NT and this is raised to 3NT.
Partner leads King of Spades

Partner's King lead was for Count, so you play the 2. It wins; Declarer plays the 9 of spades. Partner continues with the Ace of spades.

Plan the Defence.

SECTION C - DECLARER PLAY

Theme of this round - No trump Games

Question 6:

653
65
QJ874
Q83

AKQ
AK87
T92
KJ6

No prizes for guessing how you found 3NT here. LHO leads the 7 of clubs, and feeling this might be a 4th highest lead, you play the 8 from dummy. Sure enough, RHO plays the 2.

Plan the play.

Question 7:

986
KQT3
A5
Q753

AQJ3
A2
T86
AJT8

3NT by South, King of Diamonds lead.
Plan the play.

Question 8:

T75
A9
Q72
AKJ72

AQ6
K53
JT963
53

3NT by South, Queen of Hearts lead.
Plan the play.

Question 9:

3
862
AKQ84
J965

AKT5
KJT4
T93
K3

3NT by South, 9 of Spades lead.
Plan the play.

round 2 question one

how much would you enjoy the sequence

2D Double pass pass pass?

Answer - you wouldn't

For one thing I doubt you would get that sequence when your Double is takeout.

Anyway, you certainly wouldn't like to be defending 2 Diamonds Doubled on that hand - it makes with an overtrick

Any chance of a late entry for Round 3 Myles?

a takeout double is exactly that, a takeout double
asks partner to bid a suit

partner is allowed to convert to penalties

e.g. you have short diamonds, 6 on left partner could have 5 and smoothly pass with 7N rigid and 2d only going 4off

you can't possibly start it with a takeout double just incase it does go p,p,p
5S is a good bid, partner will raise on KS, hopefully on AD. sadly he might find a raise with KQ heart too but 5S is the best bid. if your hand was worse 6S would be a better bid but its just too good. no possible chance to take the spade finesse

Agreed, Myles.

You would've got 10 points for 5 Spades

On the actual hand 6 Spades makes 13 tricks but only because RHO has Singleton King which means you can't possibly go wrong. 5 spades is the right bid as you say and partner will raise to 6, which is the right spot. If your opps at the other table bid to 7S it won't matter as their dramatic over-bidding will see you regain the IMPs on other boards