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Quiz: Test Your Bridge Skills #5

Dear BBOers, you are welcome to try to solve these 4 bridge problems. You will win a score, ranging from 0 to 5 points for each question, and the final results after you complete the quiz.

[watupro 21]


Comments

21 responses to “Quiz: Test Your Bridge Skills #5”

  1. SEFclub

    Très sympathique de boire le café du matin en réfléchissant sur quelques donnes. Merci.

  2. JulesFW

    In question 2, if you play equal level conversion then X is OK, if not superior. The idea is that if partner bids 2clubs then you now bid 2D to show that you have support for diamonds and spades. If you play that bidding 2D there shows a powerful hand then you cannot do that of course. Bidding 2 Spades rates to be OK because partner rates to have a few in support, but this is not a sure thing by any means and offering 2 suits tends to be safer. I advocate equal level conversion and am curious to know of any arguments against this.

  3. Anonymous

    Thanks

  4. mjbridge

    On 2, although I agree that if I were to bid, I’d bid 1S (and considered it), I think pass is much more likely to work out. You have 9 points, RHO has 5 max and might well have bid with some weaker hands that had heart support. That leaves 26+ points between opener and partner. Partner didn’t bid. Why? You can eliminate a lot of the hand types that play well opposite yours — partner doesn’t have 5 decent spades; doesn’t have 4 with heart shortness; doesn’t have enough for a 1N overcall; doesn’t have a biddable diamond suit and (fortunately for you) didn’t have a hand to bid 2C initially either.

    Some of the more likely hands for partner are ones where (1) partner has hearts (wasted for offense, useful on defense); or (2) declarer was very strong and will bid again — most likely clubs. The one plus of bidding spades is that if opener bids 2H with a strong hand good suit, you’ve directed a lead. Weighed against that, is the likeiness that this is a misfit, or, if there is a fit, that Os best fit isn’t hearts.

    Another risk is that even where partner has a hand that might play OK against yours (say a weak NT with heart stoppers; not strong enough to bid 1N directly), you may well get too high. Yes, the 2N contract will play better with Os’ values marked, but it still might well trade a plus for a minus.

    On the last comment — I do play equal level conversion, but I think it is very dangerous to play that with only 4 cards in diamonds. Partner isn’t guaranteed to have tolerance for either of your suits. And if partner has 3 diamonds or 3 spades, this hand won’t play very well on a tap in clubs. Usually ELC shows a 4=6 and occasionally you might have a 4=5 to deal with the risk of a misfit otherwise.

    1. Cloudy1

      I agree. Opener is likely strong and may bid again to a better spot.

  5. Anonymous

    Hand 3 was backward, showing dummy to right of you so you wouldn’t be leading. Should have figured it out but just confusing enough to get it wrong.

  6. bridgepeg1

    Enjoyed this!

  7. Anonymous

    The way I was taught was that in the balancing seat was to double if at all possible in case partner wants to leave it in.In case 1 my heart holding would make that unlikely and a 1 spade overcall was not made partner probably has a very flat hand . Could we be balancing opponents into a game?

  8. danmathies

    like it

  9. Oldfox62

    Quiz was quite stimulating and enjoyable and informative as well!

  10. Anonymous

    Bell’iniziativa! Grazie la trovo interessante.

  11. Micshp

    Excellent. Thanks

  12. Eketherine

    Whetted my appetite! Let us see…

  13. alfiesmom

    Great challenge. Thanks!

  14. Anonymous

    Quisiera saber si hoy se está jugando palo quinto o 2/1

  15. Anonymous

    locking for the best esempi interessanti , carta e penna li ricopierò

  16. Janace

    I have known your explanation of #1 since the 70’s, however, either my partner does not know it or he doesn’t know I know it on BBO,

  17. VARADHAN

    Very educative.
    Analysis of the right play is of great
    Help.

  18. asikak

    Quiet useful and enjoyable in refreshing knowledge of bridge. I would like to suggest more quiz for enhancing bridge skill.

  19. murabel1

    I enjoyed this quiz and it helped my decision making for some bids. Would love to have more of same. Thanks

  20. dadax2

    I agree with the analysis of the heart opening passed around to you. Yes, partner has something. But partner is unlikely to fit you well and the most likely result is giving LHO opponent to find a better fit than hearts. Partner probably has some hearts, but any call by you other than pass lets LHO bid again, and we probably won’t like where the contract ends up vs defending against 1H.

    But I very much enjoyed the quiz and the analyses.

    Bruce