2008 NABC Bridge Quiz with Answers

By Michael Rosenberg

Question 1:
Imps: N-S vul. You, South, hold:

75 AK1052 AKJ732 ---

S W N E
--- --- 1 4
?

A) Which of the following choices do you prefer?

i) 6
ii) 5
iii) Other _____________

Analysis:

i) 6. This may feel strange, with no control in the opponents suit, but there are
several ways this can win. Partner may have a control in spades; or they may save at
favorable vulnerability; or they may not lead spades; or (the most fun) LHO may have a
singleton A!
There could also possibly be a loser (or even a trump loser). But these are not
things to worry too much about. 6 puts it to them and you dont even care too
much what they do.
The main point here is you are compelled to make a decision which may turn out
very badly there is no escape.

ii) 5. Obviously, a better chance of going plus than bidding 6. And you could
also bid 5 with the plan of bidding 6 if they bid 5 (since now partner is more likely
to be short). But they may not oblige and even if they do, you cant be sure of success.
And you may also be cold for a grand slam.

iii) Other 7 is also a possible gamble. This might talk RHO out of a spade lead. It
would look foolish when cold for only 6, though it might stampede LHO into a 7
sacrifice. It would be more attractive if one or both red suits had no loser possibility.
The only other sensible choice would be 4N defending 4 should not be a
choice here. 4N may not have a clear meaning. But even if you always intend to bid 6,
4N gives the opponents more options than a direct 6 bid.

Scores
6 100
4N 80
5 70
7 60
Double 10

Question 2
Matchpoints; N-South vul. You, South, hold:

Q62 4 92 A1087432

S W N E
?

Which of the following choices do you prefer?

i) 3
ii) Pass

Analysis:

i) 3. For the preempts always work crowd, this would be automatic. But this
hand does not really have enough playing strength for an unfavorable 3-level
preempt.

ii) Pass. It may not feel tough to not make life difficult for the opponents by
preempting. But, in addition to lack of playing strength, there are also the usual
two preempting flaws one, that you might miss a better contract (here in
spades), and two, you may well help give them a road map in the play of the hand.

Scores

Pass 100
3 50

Question 3

Imps; Love All. You, South, hold:

KJ974 J3 K762 84
 S W N E
--- --- --- 1
Pass 2 Pass 4
?

Which of the following choices do you prefer?

i) Pass
ii) Double

Analysis:

i) Pass. There are two big advantages to pass. First, the contract may be
unbeatable. Second, doubling may help declarer in the play.

ii) Double. This is where the money is. Against a strong declarer, one would
certainly be less comfortable. But you do have a huge surprise for them in the trump suit.
Watching them go three down at 50 a trick would be depressing.

Scores

Double 100
Pass 80

Question 4

Imps; Love All. You, South, hold:

AJ76 J4 852 J752

S W N E
--- --- 1 4
?

Which of the following choices do you prefer?

i) Pass
ii) 4

Analysis:

i) Pass At first, this looks a little cowardly, with such good support for partner.
But the likelihood is that if partner cannot bid, then we cannot make anything. You have
no real ruffing value unless partner has heart length and that makes defensive prospects
better. They, of course, may be making but there is no reason to think they are favored to
do so. Partner rates to have some useful minor cards over dummys holdings.
Also, bidding 4 will occasionally have the undesired effect of partner getting us
too high by bidding again.

ii) 4 The main advantage of 4 is that it may propel them into 5 down one.
But overall, I dont think this counterbalances the negatives of bidding.

Scores

Pass 100
4 80

Question 5

4) Imps; N-S vul. You, South, hold:

Q108 Q74 A2 AK1075

S W N E
--- --- --- 3
?

A) Which of the following choices do you prefer?

i) Double
ii) Pass
iii) 3NT

B) Which of the above choices do you least prefer?

i) Double
ii) Pass
iii) 3NT

Analysis:

i) Double This is probably the middle-of-the-road action. You have more

than minimum opening strength, some shortage in their suit, and support for all other
suits. Many good things can happen (including partner passing).
ii) Pass Rather conservative. But partner may still act. And there is the
point that, while SOME aggressive action may work, the chosen one will fail part of the
time. This makes pass more attractive. But it feels to me like a losing call.

iii) 3N Not for the faint of heart. You know if you get doubled, you are in
grave danger of going for a big number. Your inability to duck two diamonds may prove
painful. And even if you dont get doubled, this may well be inferior and/or expensive.
Still, it is the most practical way of reaching our most likely game contract.
By the way, this was the winning bid at the table, for whatever that is worth (not
much, in my opinion).

Scores

Double 100
3N 90
Pass 70

Part (b) was scored as 100-[score for each choice in part (a)], and was only used to break
ties.

Question 6
Matchpoints; Both vul. You, South, hold:

842 1052 93 AKQ109

S W N E
-- 1 Pass 2NT*
Pass 3NT Pass Pass
?

*Forcing

Which of the following choices do you prefer?

i) Double
ii) Pass

Analysis:

i) Double You will defeat the hand whenever their clubs are 3-3, or if either
opponent has Jxx. You also may occasionally defeat them, even when they have a club
stopper. I believe you are more than 50% to defeat them. You know they have nowhere
to run. So, assuming this is a normal contract, you are simply improving your matchpoint
expectancy by doubling.
ii) Pass This would be far more attractive at imps, where doubling has a small
window of gain, since they do not rate to go down more than one. If the contract is
always failing by one trick, double will gain only three imps. If it is always succeeding,
double will lose four (nine tricks) or eight (ten tricks) imps; or, if you run into a redouble,
9 or 13 imps.

Scores

Double 100
Pass 70

Question 7
Imps; E-W Vul. You, South, hold:

AQ107532 4 KJ942 ---

S W N E
1 Pass 1NT Pass
?

A) Which of the following choices do you prefer?

i) 2
ii) 3
iii) 4
iv) Other __

B) Which of the above listed choices do you least prefer?

i) 2
ii) 3
iii) 4

Analysis:

i) 2 The scientific approach. This allows you to investigate a diamond

contract, while limiting your hand. If partner bids one of your short suits and you follow
with a spade bid, he will clearly be better (though far from perfectly) placed to decide
whether he has the right cards for game.

ii) 3 The silly approach. Partner can have no idea of your hand, and will never
be able to appreciate that the Q is of far more value than higher cards in hearts and
clubs.
iii) 4 The practical approach. This is your most likely final contract, and getting
there this way may make life difficult for the opponents, both on opening lead and later in
the defense. As an example, a third-and-fifth 2 may be led with dummy having
Q10xxx, and RHO having Ax. He may well think his partner has KJxxx and fail to
give his partner a ruff, due to your having hidden your side suit.

iv) Other 2 seems pusillanimous. And 3 is too likely to get us to an unmakeable

slam.

Scores

4 100
2 90
3 70
3 50
2 30

Part (b) was scored as 100-[score for each choice in part (a)], and was only used to break
ties.

Question 8
Matchpoints; N-S Vul. You, South, hold:

94 A86 KJ1073 KQ4

S W N E
-- -- -- 1
?

A) Which of the following choices/plans do you prefer?

i) Double
ii) 2
iii) Pass, then over (2), pass, (pass), Double
iv) Pass, then over (2), pass, (pass), 3
v) Pass, then over (2), pass, (pass), Pass

B) Which of the above listed choices do you regard as least promising?

i) Double
ii) 2
iii) Pass, then over (2), pass, (pass), Double
 iv) Pass, then over (2), pass, (pass), 3
v) Pass, then over (2), pass, (pass), Pass

Analysis:

i) Double This gets you into the bidding. But, at matchpoints, I believe 2
gives a clearly superior chance of reaching the right partscore.

ii) 2 My choice. Bidding directly is safer at matchpoints. When you

balance at matchpoints, it is like waving a red flag at the opponents, inviting them to
double you whereas at imps, they are more fearful of doubling you into game. 2
accentuates where you want to play. Double is too likely to lead to a poor heart contract
especially if partner has a singleton in one of the minors, say Jxxx, Kxxx, AQxx,
x.
Basically, I see the likely goal with this hand as to push them to 3. 2 does that
more effectively than double the opponents are more likely to defend our 3-level
contract if we are in the wrong suit (hearts I wouldnt worry too much if partner bids
clubs, where I have secondary honors and the A on the side). The bidding is quite
likely to go (1)2-(2)3. Now it will be difficult for them to double, and they may
have a choice of defending 3 for down 1, or bidding 3, which may be close.

iii) Pass/Double You try to push them up, while only getting in the auction if they
have a fit. If it goes, instead, 1-1N, 2-2 you may be boxed out of the auction (which
could be good or bad). But you are asking for the dreaded 200.

iv) Pass/3 Difficult to compare this with (iii). Double may be safer. But you
sometimes gain by avoiding a doubling rhythm which they are more likely to get into
at matchpoints. Of course, even if you buy it for 3 you might go for the dreaded 200
no big deal at imps, but thats why I prefer the immediate overcall. Then if partner has
no fit or values, we are out of the auction.

v) Pass/Pass This is my last choice. It carries all the risks of missing game or
partscore, and fails to make life difficult for the opponents. It avoids the negative
numbers, but is just too passive an action with a sound opening bid, a goodish suit, and
no wastage in the opponents suit.

Scores

2 100
Double 80
Pass/Double 70
Pass/3 60
Pass/Pass 50

Part (b) was scored as 100-[score for each choice in part (a)], and was only used to break
ties.