GOREN'S YEAR-END QUIZ

On some bridge hands there may seem to be little to choose between one bid or another, and I grant your right to an opinion that does not precisely coincide with the range of scores I am about to propose. Nevertheless, the actual score you achieve on this quiz will have considerable significance. The aim of good bidding is to win points, and these questions set up the same target. You will gain points for any reasonable answer to each of the 18 problems. No matter what your bid is, no points are deducted from your score. Don't let this fool you. Choosing less than the best bid causes the same invisible losses that you suffer at the table by reaching less than the best contract. Score 90 and you'll be my favorite partner. With 80 you'll be a winning player. With 70 you'll still incur no severe loss on the year's play. But if you score 60 or less, the points you've lost on this quiz will be hugely multiplied at the table.

1 As South you have dealt yourself:

[Ace of Spades]
[King of Spades]
[Queen of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[6 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[King of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[7 of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]
[3 of Diamonds]

What in your opening bid?

2 As South you hold:

[10 of Spades]
[Queen of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[7 of Clubs]
[5 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]

NORTH

1 [Spade]
3 [Spade]

EAST

PASS
PASS

SOUTH

1 NT
?

WEST

PASS

What do you bid now?

3 As South you hold:

[Jack of Spades]
[10 of Spades]
[6 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[4 of Hearts]
[9 of Clubs]
[8 of Clubs]
[6 of Clubs]
[3 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[3 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]

EAST

PASS
PASS
PASS

SOUTH

PASS
2 NT
?

WEST

PASS
PASS

NORTH

2 [Heart]
3 [Spade]

What do you bid now?

4 As South you hold:

[King of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[9 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[Queen of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[7 of Clubs]
[6 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]

SOUTH

1 [Heart]
?

WEST

PASS

NORTH

1 NT

EAST

PASS

What do you bid now?

5 As South you hold:

[7 of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[6 of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[King of Clubs]
[Queen of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]

NORTH

1 [Heart]
2 [Spade]
4 [Heart]

EAST

PASS
PASS
PASS

SOUTH

2 [Diamond]
3 [Club]
?

WEST

PASS
PASS

What do you bid now?

6 As South you hold :

[2 of Spades]
[Jack of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[3 of Clubs]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]

WEST

1 [Heart]

NORTH

1 [Spade]

EAST

DBL

SOUTH

?

What do you bid now?

7 As South you hold:

[Ace of Spades]
[Queen of Spades]
[10 of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[3 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[Queen of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[8 of Clubs]
[6 of Clubs]
[5 of Clubs]
[6 of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]

NORTH

1 [Heart]

EAST

2 [Diamond]

SOUTH

?

WEST

What do you bid?

8 As South you hold:

[Jack of Spades]
[10 of Spades]
[7 of Spades]
[6 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[Queen of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[7 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[8 of Clubs]
[6 of Diamonds]

WEST

3 [Diamond]

NORTH

3 NT

EAST

PASS

SOUTH

?

What do you bid?

9 North-South vulnerable and as South you hold:

[Ace of Spades]
[5 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[9 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[3 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[9 of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]

WEST

3 [Club]

NORTH

PASS

EAST

PASS

SOUTH

?

What do you bid?

10 As South you hold :

[King of Spades]
[Queen of Spades]
[5 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[8 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[8 of Clubs]
[3 of Clubs]
[10 of Diamonds]
[9 of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]

SOUTH

PASS
1 NT
?

WEST

PASS
PASS

NORTH

1 [Club]
2 [Spade]

EAST

1 [Spade]
PASS

What do you bid now?

11 As South you hold:

[Ace of Spades]
[Queen of Spades]
[5 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[Queen of Hearts]
[Jack of Hearts]
[9 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[8 of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[6 of Clubs]
[3 of Clubs]

NORTH

1 [Diamond]
2 [Club]

EAST

PASS
PASS

SOUTH

1 [Heart]
?

WEST

PASS

What do you bid now?

12 As South, vulnerable, you hold:

[Queen of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[3 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[8 of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[9 of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]
[3 of Diamonds]

NORTH

PASS
PASS
2 [Heart]

EAST

1 [Diamond]
1 NT
PASS

SOUTH

PASS
PASS
?

WEST

1 [Heart]
PASS

What do you bid now?

13 As South you hold:

[6 of Spades]
[5 of Spades]
[10 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[Queen of Clubs]
[8 of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[2 of Clubs]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]

WEST

PASS
PASS

NORTH

1 [Heart]
DBL

EAST

3 [Spade]
PASS

SOUTH

PASS
?

What do you bid now?

14 Both sides vulnerable, you have 60 part-score and you hold:

[Ace of Hearts]
[King of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[Queen of Clubs]
[6 of Clubs]
[2 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]

EAST

1 [Heart]

SOUTH

?

WEST

NORTH

What do you bid?

15 As South you hold:

[King of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[9 of Spades]
[7 of Spades]
[6 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[Jack of Hearts]
[9 of Hearts]
[8 of Hearts]
[10 of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]

SOUTH

1 [Spade]
2 [Heart]
?

WEST

PASS
PASS

NORTH

2 [Diamond]
3 [Diamond]

EAST

PASS
PASS

What do you bid now?

16 As South you hold:

[6 of Spades]
[2 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[Queen of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[Jack of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[7 of Clubs]
[5 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[9 of Diamonds]
[5 of Diamonds]

NORTH

1 [Club]
1 [Heart]
3 [Spade]

EAST

PASS
PASS
DBL

SOUTH

1 [Heart]
3 [Club]
?

WEST

PASS
PASS

What do you bid now?

17 As South you hold:

[2 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[Jack of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[8 of Clubs]
[6 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[King of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[8 of Diamonds]
[3 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]

NORTH

1 [Spade]
2 [Spade]

EAST

PASS
PASS

SOUTH

2 [Diamond]
?

WEST

PASS

What do you bid now?

18 As South you hold:

[Ace of Spades]
[King of Spades]
[9 of Spades]
[Ace of Hearts]
[King of Hearts]
[8 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[2 of Hearts]
[10 of Clubs]
[Ace of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]

SOUTH

1 [Heart]
3 [Heart]
?

WEST

PASS
PASS

NORTH

1 [Spade]
3 NT

EAST

PASS
PASS

What do you bid now?

HERE ARE THE ANSWERS

1

1 CLUB—5 PTS.
1 SPADE—3 PTS.
1 NO TRUMP—2 PTS.

Though this hand possesses the textbook point requirements, a one-no-trump opening should be avoided when values are concentrated in two suits. A one-spade opening may present rebid problems. Assuming partner responds in a red suit to the club opening, your one-spade rebid lets him bid no trump if he can stop the fourth suit.

2

PASS—5 PTS.
3 NO TRUMP—2 PTS.
4 DIAMONDS—1 PT.

Partner's jump rebid in spades is not forcing, and you have about the least the law will tolerate for a one-no-trump response. If this hand could produce a game, partner should have been able to bid it himself.

3

4 DIAMONDS—5 PTS.
6 SPADES—4 PTS.
5 SPADES—3 PTS.
4 SPADES—1 PT.

This hand has suddenly grown to slam proportions. Although a direct leap to six spades would not be unreasonable, the wisest course would be a bid of four diamonds, followed by an overbid of game in spades.

4

PASS—5 PTS.
2 DIAMONDS—2 PTS.
2 NO TRUMP—1 PT.

Having reached the conclusion there is no game, you must decide whether partner can be trusted with a one-no-trump contract. In these columns the chivalrous attitude is always favored. Partner's known maximum is 10 points, which, with your 15, cannot add up to 26.

5

6 HEARTS—5 PTS.
4 NO TRUMP—4 PTS.
6 NO TRUMP—1 PT.

You have better than an opening bid, and partner has opened, reversed (bid a higher-ranking suit above the one level) and jumped. This spells a slam, which you should bid forthwith. The prescribed call is six hearts, where your doubleton spade may add a ruffing trick.

6

1 NO TRUMP—5 PTS.
PASS—3 PTS.

A spade contract does not appear to be propitious. A rescue bid of one no trump suggests that partner rescue himself in either diamonds, or clubs, since obviously you are short in spades and have the other three suits.

7

PASS—5 PTS.
2 SPADES—2 PTS.
3 CLUBS—1 PT.

This hand has merit, but no immediate action can be taken with safety. If you mention either of your suits, partner may be cornered into bidding three hearts—placing you in an awkward position. When a free bid projects the bidding to the three level, it should be backed up by a holding equal to an opening bid.

8

PASS—5 PTS.
4 DIAMONDS—3 PTS.
4 HEARTS OR 4 SPADES—1 PT.

Don't be a nursemaid. Had partner been interested in hearing about the majors, he would have doubled the three-diamond bid. As between the other calls, we have a preference for the false cue bid of four diamonds since it is more apt to uncover the best trump fit.

9

3 DIAMONDS—5 PTS.
DOUBLE—2 PTS.
PASS—0

It may seem that this hand rates aggressive action, but a takeout double would be attended with grave danger if partner responded three spades. If you miss a heart game, charge it up to the effectiveness of pre-emptive tactics.

10

2 NO TRUMP—5 PTS.
3 CLUBS—2 PTS.
3 DIAMONDS—1 PT.

Partner appears to have slam aspirations. However, too much of your strength is concentrated in spades—a serious duplication of values. Another mild call is indicated to slow partner down.

11

2 SPADES—5 PTS.
4 CLUBS—2 PTS.
3 HEARTS—1 PT.

To announce the club fit by a jump raise would interfere with the orderly investigation for bigger things and suggest greater high-card strength in clubs.

12

PASS—5 PTS.
3 DIAMONDS—2 PTS.
2 NO TRUMP—1 PT.

We are not partial to partners who over-call in the opponent's suit, especially when vulnerable. However, you must presume he knows what he is doing. Do not rescue even if partner gets doubled.

13

4 HEARTS—5 PTS.
5 CLUBS—2 PTS.
4 CLUBS—1 PT.

The prospect of raising partner at the four level on three trumps is not appealing, but a bid of four clubs is likely to be passed, and we would not advise a leap to five clubs.

14

2 DIAMONDS—5 PTS.
2 HEARTS—2 PTS.
DOUBLE—1 PT.

A simple overcall of two diamonds may seem strange with a 22-point hand. But a takeout double is not recommended because of the danger that partner may hold a long spade suit. The chances of missing a slam are remote, for partner would have to produce considerable trick-taking power to bring us up to 12 tricks.

15

PASS—5 PTS.
3 SPADES—2 PTS.

If partner is bidding correctly, you must heed his warning that he has not much else but long diamonds. True, you have not yet shown a good rebiddable spade suit, but if partner doesn't like spades, you may be in very deep water. Resign yourself to a possible small loss by passing three diamonds. Incidentally, we would have preferred a rebid of two spades after partner's two-diamond bid.

16

4 HEARTS—5 PTS.
PASS—3 PTS.
3 NO TRUMP—2 PTS.
4 CLUBS—1 PT.

Do not make the mistake of bidding three no trump. Partner was in position to make that call himself and declined. Showing the heart support at this point—a delayed raise—will let partner know you have only three-card support and let him decide on the final contract.

17

3 HEARTS—5 PTS.
5 DIAMONDS—4 PTS.
4 DIAMONDS—3 PTS.
3 DIAMONDS—1 PT.

The slightly fancy bid of three hearts may induce partner to bid three no trump if he has clubs protected. If worst comes to worst and he raises hearts, you can always go back to diamonds. The diamond rebids are graded according to their vigor.

18

PASS—5 PTS.
4 HEARTS—3 PTS.
4 SPADES—2 PTS.

Either four hearts or four spades could prove safer, but it might not be prudent to override partner's decision, especially since he has already been warned to expect an .unbalanced hand. If we did decide to bid again, our choice would be four hearts; a spade contract might prove too difficult to manage since partner failed to rebid his spades.

PHOTO