Quiz 8B71   Main

Escape from The Rock

by Richard Pavlicek

We Americans take pride in our prisons!
 (Other countries waste money on schools) 

On each of these 10 problems, you hold a rock crusher and must decide whether to open 2 (artificial force) or one of a suit. Two options are given, so just select the button of your choice. If you would bid something else, don’t tell anyone, or Alcatraz will be reopened just for you.

Compare your choice with the two experts who faced the same situation in real life; one opening 2 , the other one of a suit. Click “Score Me” at any time to see your running score. If you finish plus after 10 boards, you have escaped from The Rock!

Problem 1

In fourth seat with neither side vulnerable,

You hold:

A K Q 10 A K 3 K Q 8 7 2 7

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

1999 Bermuda Bowl		Final	USA1 vs Brazil
None Vul	6 5 4 Q J 10 8 7 — A 10 8 6 4		WEST Meckstroth Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	North Chagas Pass 2 3 3 3 NT	East Rodwell Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass	South Branco 2 2 NT 3 3
7 3 6 5 2 A 10 6 3 Q 9 3 2		J 9 8 2 9 4 J 9 5 4 K J 5
	A K Q 10 A K 3 K Q 8 7 2 7		Janz Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	Nickell Pass 1 3 4 6	Mello Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass	Freeman 1 2 3 5

Marcelo Branco opened 2 and played 3 NT with the 2 lead. Made 4, +430.
Richard Freeman opened 1 and partner played 6 with the 4 lead. Made 6, +980.

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Problem 2

In third seat with only your side vulnerable,

You hold:

J A K 9 4 2 A J A K Q 8 4

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2004 Olympiad		Quarterfinal	Pakistan vs Italy
E-W Vul	K 9 7 5 5 Q 9 7 5 2 J 7 2		WEST Versace Pass 2 2 3 4 4 5	North Allana Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	East Lauria 2 2 3 3 4 4 NT 6	South Fazli Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass
A Q 10 4 Q 7 3 10 3 10 9 6 5		J A K 9 4 2 A J A K Q 8 4
	8 6 3 2 J 10 8 6 K 8 6 4 3		Jafer Pass 2 4 5 5	Fantoni Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	Khan 1 4 4 NT 5 7	Nunes Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Lorenzo Lauria opened 2 and played 6 with the 6 lead. Made 6, +1370.
Sarfaraz Khan opened 1 and played 7 with the 2 lead. Down 2, -200.

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Problem 3

In second seat with both sides vulnerable,

You hold:

A A 5 3 A Q 10 9 5 2 A K 7

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2004 Olympiad		Round of 16	Japan vs Egypt
Both Vul	A A 5 3 A Q 10 9 5 2 A K 7		WEST Takano Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	North Saaid 2 3 3 NT 4 5 NT 7	East Teramoto Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass	South El Sheikh 2 3 4 5 6
Q 9 3 2 Q 9 8 6 J 7 9 6 3		10 8 7 6 10 4 8 4 3 Q 5 4 2
	K J 5 4 K J 7 2 K 6 J 10 8		El Ahmady Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	Kaku 1 3 3 4 NT 6	Sadek Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass	Takayama 1 3 4 5

Abd Saaid opened 2 and partner played 7 with the 7 lead. Made 7, +2140.
Hiroshi Kaku opened 1 and played 6 with the 8 lead. Made 6, +1370.

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Problem 4

In third seat with both sides vulnerable,

You hold:

A Q J 9 8 2 A J 10 5 4 2 — A

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2000 USBC		Semifinal	Meltzer vs Schwartz
Both Vul	K 10 Q 9 8 7 10 8 3 J 10 6 3		WEST Weinstein Pass 2 2 NT 3 5	North Larsen Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	East Levin 2 2 3 4 5	South Meltzer Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass
5 4 K 6 A 7 5 4 2 Q 7 4 2		A Q J 9 8 2 A J 10 5 4 2 — A
	7 6 3 3 K Q J 9 6 K 9 8 5		Martel Pass 1 NT 3 6	Rosenberg Pass Pass Pass All Pass	Stansby 1 3 5	Zia Pass Pass Pass

Bobby Levin opened 2 and played 5 with the K lead. Made 6, +680.
Lew Stansby opened 1 and played 6 with the 3 lead. Made 6, +1430.

Food for thought: Why did Zia lead the 3 against 6 ? (answer at end)

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Problem 5

In third seat with only your side vulnerable,

You hold:

A K 9 7 4 3 2 A Q J A K 10

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2003 USBC		Final	Welland vs Cohen
E-W Vul	Q 6 2 K Q 8 7 10 7 3 6 3 2		WEST Wildavsky Pass 2	North Welland Pass Pass	East Doub 2 2 NT	South Fallenius Pass All Pass
J 8 3 10 9 9 6 4 2 9 8 7 5		A K 9 7 4 3 2 A Q J A K 10
	10 5 A J 6 5 4 K 8 5 Q J 4		WeinsteinH Pass Pass	Landen Pass Pass	Garner 1	Pratap Pass

Doug Doub opened 2 and played 2 NT with the 4 lead. Down 2, -200.
Steve Garner opened 1 and player there with the Q lead. Made 2, +110.

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Problem 6

In third seat with neither side vulnerable,

You hold:

A K 10 5 A K Q J 10 8 3 Q 2

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2005 USBC		Semifinal	Welland vs Robinson
None Vul	J 7 5 4 3 6 4 3 6 A K 5 3		WEST Boyd Pass 2	North Welland Pass Pass	East Robinson 2 3 NT	South Fallenius Pass All Pass
K 9 8 2 A J 2 9 7 4 9 8 6		A K 10 5 A K Q J 10 8 3 Q 2
	Q 10 6 Q 9 8 7 5 2 J 10 7 4		Rosenberg Pass 1 5	Bramley Pass Pass Pass	Zia 1 3 6	Feldman Pass Pass All Pass

Steve Robinson opened 2 and played 3 NT with the 8 lead. Made 6, +490.
Zia Mahmood* opened 1 and played 6 with the 8 lead. Made 6, +920.

*Zia is widely known by first name only (like “Elvis” or “Madonna”) so Mahmood is included only to keep the presentation uniform — speaking of which, after stealing this slam, Zia may have earned enough stripes for a prison uniform.

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Problem 7

In third seat with both sides vulnerable,

You hold:

K Q 10 9 6 A K 9 8 A K J 7 —

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2006 USBC		Round of 16	Jacobs vs Fout
Both Vul	4 2 Q 6 10 5 3 2 Q J 9 7 3		WEST Fout Pass 3 3 NT 4 6	North Rosenberg Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	East Roman 2 3 4 5 6	South Zia Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass
A J 7 5 4 3 Q 9 8 A 10 6 4		K Q 10 9 6 A K 9 8 A K J 7 —
	8 7 5 3 J 10 2 6 4 K 8 5 2		Katz Pass 1 NT 2 2 3	Ehlers Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass	Jacobs 1 2 2 3 4	Rengstorff Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Jeff Roman opened 2 and played 6 with the 2 lead. Made 6, +1430.
George Jacobs opened 1 and played 4 with the 6 lead. Made 6, +680.

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Problem 8

In third seat with only your side vulnerable,

You hold:

A Q 5 4 3 2 A A 2 A K 10 6

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2006 World Championship		Round of 64	Angelini vs Schwartz
E-W Vul	10 J 9 8 7 3 K 10 7 4 J 9 3		WEST Casen Pass 2 3 5	North Fantoni Pass Pass Pass Pass	East Krekorian 2 2 4 6	South Nunes Pass Pass Pass All Pass
6 6 5 4 2 Q 8 6 Q 8 7 5 4		A Q 5 4 3 2 A A 2 A K 10 6
	K J 9 8 7 K Q 10 J 9 5 3 2		Lauria Pass Pass	El Ahmady Pass Pass	Versace 1	Sadek Pass

Jim Krekorian opened 2 and played 6 with the K lead. Down 2, -200.
Alfredo Versace opened 1 and played there with the K lead. Made 2, +110.

Fate was cruel, as 6 is surely the best contract in theory — but maybe that should be expected, as the Guardian Angel would naturally protect Angelini.

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Problem 9

In first seat with both sides vulnerable,

You hold:

A K A 10 6 K Q 10 9 8 5 A J

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2008 Spingold		Semifinal	Welland vs Weed
Both Vul	J 5 2 K J 4 2 7 6 3 8 5 2		WEST Seamon 2 2 NT 3 4 4 6	North Welland Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass	East Cayne 2 3 3 NT 4 6	South Glubok 2 Pass Pass Pass Pass
A K A 10 6 K Q 10 9 8 5 A J		3 Q 9 8 7 5 A J 4 Q 10 7 4
	Q 10 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 K 9 6 3		Garner 1 Dbl 7	Nunes Pass Pass All Pass	WeinsteinH 1 4	Fantoni 3 Pass

Michael Seamon opened 2 and partner played 6 with the 2 lead. Made 6, +1430.
Steve Garner opened 1 and played 7 with the 2 lead. Down 1, -100.

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Problem 10

In first seat with only opponents vulnerable,

You hold:

A J A K J 7 3 2 8 A K 10 5

What is your opening bid?  1  2

In real life…

2009 USBC		Round of 16B	Jacobs vs Nickell
N-S Vul	6 4 3 Q 10 9 6 K Q 9 4 J 6		WEST Hamman 2 2 3 4	North Grue Pass Pass Pass All Pass	East Zia 2 2 3	South Cheek Pass Pass Pass
A J A K J 7 3 2 8 A K 10 5		K Q 8 7 8 J 5 3 2 9 8 4 2
	10 9 5 2 5 4 A 10 7 6 Q 7 3		Levin 1 3 4 4 NT	Rodwell Pass Pass Pass Pass	Weinstein 1 NT 4 4 5	Meckstroth Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Bob Hamman opened 2 and played 4 with the K lead. Down 1, -50.
Bobby Levin opened 1 and played 5 with the K lead. Made 5, +400.

Results and IMP scores are based on what happened in real life, so the winning decision is not necessarily correct in theory, nor does it prove anything. Nonetheless, you must accept the result of your choice, whether you agree with the actual auction or not.

Well, did you escape from The Rock? If not, there’s one last chance… jump into the Bay and swim like hell!

Food for thought (answer): Zia knew it was futile to try to establish and later cash a diamond trick. With spades laying friendly for declarer, he tried to implant the concern of a singleton spade, either in his hand or partner’s. This might induce declarer to play trumps from the top rather than finesse successfully against partner.

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© 2010 Richard Pavlicek