Challenge 7Y17 MainAnalyses


Starry, Starry Night


Scores by Richard Pavlicek

Paint your palette blue and gray! All bridge players are invited to try this bidding challenge based on six problems from a past tournament. When and where? That’s my little secret, though you are welcome to guess from the clues on this page. But don’t worry about that; all you have to do is choose your call as South from the choices offered.

In January 2003 these problems were presented as a poll, with 1035 entrants from 107 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. Object is to find the best call based on judgment so only basic conventions are allowed. For a system reference, see Standard American Bridge.

“Look out on a summer’s day with eyes that know the darkness in my soul.” Now start bidding before you get starry-eyed.

Problem 1

IMPsBoth VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

Pass
North

1 S
EAST
Pass
Pass
South
1 C
?
S K Q 4
H K 5
D A 3
C A Q J 8 5 3
 
Your call? 2 D  2 H  2 NT  3 C  3 S  3 NT  4 S

Problem 2

IMPsE-W VulYou, South, hold:
 
WEST
2 H1
North
2 NT
East
3 H
South
?
S 7 6 3 2
H 10
D K Q 10 9 7 5 2
C 6
 
1. 12-16, 5+ hearts, 4+ clubsYour call? 3 NT  4 C  4 D  4 H  5 D

Problem 3

IMPsN-S VulYou, South, hold:
 
WEST
Pass
North
1 C
East
1 H
South
?
S A 6 4 3
H A K 3
D K 10 8 4 2
C Q
 
Your call? 1 S  2 D  2 H  2 NT  3 NT

Problem 4

IMPsE-W VulYou, South, hold:
 
WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
1 S
2 D
3 D
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
2 C
2 H
?
S 9
H A K Q 2
D 10 9 6
C A 9 8 7 5
 
Your call? 3 H  3 NT  4 D  4 NT  5 D  6 D

Problem 5

IMPsN-S VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

Pass
Pass
North

Pass
1 S
East

1 H
2 H
SOUTH
1 D
Dbl
?
S A J 4
H A K 4
D A 7 6 5 3 2
C A
 
Your call? 2 S  2 NT  3 D  3 S  4 S

Problem 6

IMPsE-W VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

Pass
Pass
North

2 C
Dbl1
East

2 S
Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
Pass
?
S Q 5
H A J 8
D A Q
C Q 9 7 6 5 4
 
1. penaltyYour call and opinion? A. Pass, agree with 1 NT
B. Pass, disagree with 1 NT
C. 2 NT, agree with 1 NT
D. 2 NT, disagree with 1 NT
E. 3 C, agree with 1 NT
F. 3 C, disagree with 1 NT

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 7Y17 MainAnalysesScoresTop Starry, Starry Night

© 2003 Richard Pavlicek