Aces and Plum Blossoms

Have cards, will travel! The sights are almost too beautiful for bridge, but here you are. Test yourself on this bidding challenge based on six problems from a past tournament. When and where? That’s for me to know and for you to find out, though you are welcome to guess from the clues; but don’t worry about that. Just choose your call as South from the choices offered.

In March 2002 these problems were presented as a poll, with 813 entrants from 106 locations.
The poll is closed, but you can still try it as a quiz and find your score immediately.

Assume both sides use Standard American bidding (unless noted otherwise) with 15-17 notrumps,
five-card majors and weak two-bids. The object is to determine the best calls based on judgment,
so only basic conventions are allowed. For a system reference, see Standard American Bridge.

So what are you waiting for?
Let your bidding skills blossom as you enjoy the scenery.

Problem 1

IMPs		None vul		You, South, hold:
West 1	North Pass	East Pass	South ?	A J 6 5 K Q 10 8 8 Q J 6 2
			Your call? Pass Dbl 1 NT 2  2

Problem 2

IMPs		Both vul		You, South, hold:
West Pass Pass	North Pass 2	East 2 1 Pass	South Pass ?	K 9 6 2 8 2 A 9 A K 9 8 6
1. weak			Your call? Pass 2  2 NT 3  3  3  3 NT

Problem 3

IMPs		E-W vul		You, South, hold:
West Pass Pass	North 1 3	East 3 Pass	South Pass Pass ?	K 9 J 8 6 5 4 2 K J 10 7 6
			Your call? Pass 3 NT 4  4  4  4  5

Problem 4

IMPs		None vul		You, South, hold:
West 2 1	North 1 3	East Pass 3	South 1 ?	J 6 4 K 10 9 5 10 6 A Q J 9
1. intermediate			Your call? Pass X* 3 NT 4  4  5

*penalty

Problem 5

IMPs		E-W vul		You, South, hold:
West Pass	North Pass	East Pass	South ?	— K 10 9 5 4 6 5 A Q J 10 5 2
			Your call? Pass 1  1  2  3  4  5

Problem 6

IMPs		N-S vul		You, South, hold:
West 3	North Pass Pass	East 2 1 Pass	South ? ?	10 9 6 A K Q J 4 K 3 2 A 2
1. 11-15, 5+ clubs			Your two calls?	A. Dbl then Pass B. Dbl then 3 C. 2 then Pass D. 2 then Dbl E.  2 NT then Pass F.  2 NT then 3

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 7W73 Main Analyses

Scores Top Aces and Plum Blossoms

© 2002 Richard Pavlicek