Hints and Tricks in Bridge
Opening Bid Quiz Answers
1. This is a classic minimum opening bid. Open 1H and plan to rebid 2D.
2. Pass in all seats unless you have an agreement about opening light and with 4 of a major in third seat. Then you could try 1H. It does meet the Rule of 15. You will like a H lead and you can pass anything your partner bids.
3. Open 1S. You have 11 HCP, 1 long suit point and 1 purity point. Also fits the Rule of 20
4. 1 club opening. If partner responds 1S, bid 1NT.
5. Pass in first or second seat. Open 1 S in 3rd or 4th.
6. P. This one makes the rule of 15 in 3rd position but is quite passable because of its lack of quick tricks. If you are convinced of the Rule of 15, you could open 1C in 3rd or 4th position and plan to pass whatever your partner bids.
7. Open 1S. 10 HCP, 2 length points and 1 purity point. Rebid 2S-you like this trump suit. You could try buying the bid by opening 2S in 4th seat.
8. Open 1S. Rebid 2D.
9. Pass If you are not vul and feeling aggressive, you could open 1S in 3rd seat-doesn’t meet the rule of 15, quite, and your partner will expect you to have 5 spades, so I vote for pass.
10. Open 1H. You have 10HCP’s, 2 suit length points and 1 purity point.
11. Quack quack (queens and jacks) Pass in all positions.
12. Open 1 D. You’d rather open the longer suit, but rebid problems abound if partner bids 1H, 1S, or even 1NT. Open 1 D and rebid 2 C. If you have a strong 5 card club suit and a weak 4 card diamond suit you can open 1 C and rebid clubs if you need to.
Did you disagree with any of the answers? Did your partner and you agree? That is important. Remember these are based on my criteria for a basic opening (after consulting with 3 experts who hang out on my bookcase shelf). If you and your partner have different criteria, agree on the answers, and have a system that works for you, than your answers are right for the two of you. The quiz answers are guidelines using the information on suit quality and the advice of several experts about opening bids.
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BRIDGE BITES from The American Contract Bridge League IT’S ELEMENTARY By: Brian GunnellCrime in London appeared to be taking a vacation, and Sherlock Holmes found himself on opening lead at the Baker Street Bridge Club: Holmes West Watson East ♠ A65, ♥ 92, ♦ T95, ♣ Q9654 Pass 1♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT All Pass Let’s eavesdrop on the post-mortem in Holmes’ 221B bachelor quarters. Watson: Dash it, Holmes, why not lead the unbid suit? I must have Hearts. Holmes: Indeed, dear chap, you had four, but so did declarer. Watson: We know that now. Holmes: And I knew it before I made my lead. Watson: An Englishman doesn’t peek. Holmes: No, it was the curious matter of your bidding. Watson: But I didn’t bid. Holmes: Yes, that was most curious. My 6-count and the opponents’ bidding told me that you had a decent hand. And yet you did not overcall 1♥. Clearly you had less than 5 Hearts. The auction also told me that West had less than four Hearts and East less than 5. Thus, the Hearts were 2-3-4-4 around the table. Watson: Very clever. I suppose you also knew that West had three Clubs. Holmes: Yes, Watson. Watson: You did know? Holmes: It seemed most likely. I had five and East had at least two. Watson: He did? Holmes: If he was 3=4=5=1 he would raise Spades. With 2=4=6=1 he would rebid Diamonds. Ergo, he had at least two Clubs. Watson: So, if East had two Clubs and
West had four then I would have had just two. With that I would no doubt make a Takeout Double of 1♣. Holmes: By George, I think he’s got it! Yes, of course, Holmes did not lead the unbid Hearts, he led through West’s Club suit. But how on earth did he know to lead the Queen, the only card in his hand which beats the contract? That’s a story for another day.
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