MAY  QUIZ                                                                                                                                                    

This Weeks Quiz (24th May 2016)

Dlr: South
Vul: Both
IMPs

North
S. A86
H. K10753
D. 86
C. AJ5

South (you)
S. K109
H. A9    
D. AK42
C. KQ92

South         West         North         East
1D               Pass         1H             Pass
2NT            Pass          4NT (1)      Pass
5C (2)         Pass         5NT (3)      Pass
6NT (4)       All Pass

(1) A real stretch given that you show 18-19.
(2) Acceptance showing four clubs in case partner also has four clubs.
(3) Not forcing. Showing a minimum slam try; no kidding.
(4) I'm not letting you off the hook.

Opening lead: DQ In spite of your opening 1D bid, West leads your suit.    East plays the D7.    Plan the play.

Solution:

With eight top tricks outside of hearts, the suit you must develop, you need to play hearts to your best advantage for FOUR TRICKS.    The best play with this combination is to lead low from dummy and insert the 9.    You score four heart tricks anytime the suit breaks 3-3 or East has Jx, Qx, or QJxx; not a bad parlay.

The West hand: S. J75  H. J842     D. QJ10     C. 864
The East hand:  S. Q432  H. Q6  D. 9753     C. 1073

THE BOTTOM LINE:

After partner makes an invitational raise to 4NT, a new suit by the opener is natural, it is not some sort of response to a non-existent Blackwood bid.

At notrump (or suit), count your sure tricks outside of the suit you must develop so you will know how many tricks you need in your main suit.

AND

Let's see how familiar you are with responder's follow up rebids after having responded 1NT to a 1S opening bid. 

You are South, neither side is vulnerable, and you are playing matchpoints.

South           West         North         East
Pass             Pass         1S              Pass
1NT              Pass          2D             Pass
?

What is your rebid, if anything, with each of the following seven hands?

1.  S. 72         H. A1098           D. J103                C. KJ108

2.  S. 432       H. QJ98             D. QJ10               C. 1098

3.  S. 43         H. KJ10985       D. Q762               C. 7

4.  S. 4           H. A876            D. QJ876              C. 654

5.  S. 54         H. Q76              D. 109                  C. KQ10943

6.  S. 4           H. J1098           D. Q43                  C. A8765

7.  S. 43         H. 3                  D. K108743          C. A976

SOLUTIONS

1.   2NT.    This normally shows 10 HCP with the unbid suits well stopped.   However, you are allowed to cheat a point holding three tens.

2.  2S.    With three cards in each of partner's suits, return to the first suit if you want to keep your partner; pass if you want to get rid of him.

3.  2H.    Even with four diamonds you simply cannot conceal a six card major of this strength.

4. 3D.    Seems pretty obvious.    If you even thought of bidding something else, don't mention it in public.

5.  3C.    For the same reason you bid 2H on #3, to show your partner a strong six card suit with few HCP.

6.  Pass.    Anything else is playing with fire.

7.  4C.    The "out of the blue cue".    What, you've never heard of it?   This jump from outer space shows a magnificent fit with partner's last bid suit plus an ace in the jump suit.    What else can it mean?    You weren't strong enough to open or respond at the two level after you passed, so you must have been hit big time.    However, take full credit if you jumped to 4D, but raising to only 3D is cowardly to the max