Quiz 8B71 Main

Escape from The Rock

by Richard Pavlicek

We Americans take great 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 the bidding 2 (artificial force) or one of a suit. If you would bid something else, don’t tell anyone, or Alcatraz may be reopened just for you.

Choose your opening bids then click “Score Me” to see how you did. If you finish plus IMPs after 10 boards, you have escaped from The Rock! At the end you can view the actual deals and see how two experts bid differently in each case.

1. IMPs None vul

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

Opening bid in fourth seat? 1 2

2. IMPs Unfavorable vul

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

Opening bid in third seat? 1 2

3. IMPs Both vul

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

Opening bid in second seat? 1 2

4. IMPs Both vul

A Q J 9 8 2
A J 10 5 4 2
—
A

Opening bid in third seat? 1 2

5. IMPs Unfavorable vul

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

Opening bid in third seat? 1 2

Quit
Top Escape from The Rock

6. IMPs None vul

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

Opening bid in third seat? 1 2

7. IMPs Both vul

K Q 10 9 6
A K 9 8
A K J 7
—

Opening bid in third seat? 1 2

8. IMPs Unfavorable vul

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

Opening bid in third seat? 1 2

9. IMPs Both vul

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

Opening bid as dealer? 1 2

10. IMPs Favorable vul

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

Opening bid as dealer? 1 2

Quit
Actual Results
Top Escape from The Rock

1. Bermuda Bowl Final 1999

West deals 6 5 4 West North East South
None vul Q J 10 8 7 Meckstroth Chagas Rodwell Branco
— Pass Pass Pass 2
A 10 8 6 4 Pass 2 Pass 2 NT
7 3 Table J 9 8 2 Pass 3 Pass 3
6 5 2 9 4 Pass 3 Pass 3
A 10 6 3 J 9 5 4 Pass 3 NT All Pass
Q 9 3 2 K J 5
A K Q 10
A K 3
K Q 8 7 2
7

Brazil N-S USA1 N-S West North East South
3 NT South 6 North Janz Nickell Mello Freeman
Lead: 2 Lead: 4 Pass Pass Pass 1
Made 4 +430 Made 6 +980 Pass 1 Pass 2
USA1 +11 IMPs Pass 3 Pass 3
Pass 4 Pass 5
Pass 6 All Pass

Opening 1 +11 IMPs

2. Olympiad Quarterfinal 2004

West deals K 9 7 5 West North East South
E-W vul 5 Versace Allana Lauria Fazli
Q 9 7 5 2 Pass Pass 2 Pass
J 7 2 2 Pass 2 Pass
A Q 10 4 Table J 2 Pass 3 Pass
Q 7 3 A K 9 4 2 3 Pass 3 Pass
10 3 A J 4 Pass 4 Pass
10 9 6 5 A K Q 8 4 4 Pass 4 NT Pass
8 6 3 2 5 Pass 6 All Pass
J 10 8 6
K 8 6 4
3

Pakistan N-S Italy N-S West North East South
6 East 7 East Jafer Fantoni Khan Nunes
Lead: 6 Lead: 2 Pass Pass 1 Pass
Made 6 +1370 Down 3 -300 2 Pass 4 Pass
Italy +17 IMPs 4 Pass 4 NT Pass
5 Pass 5 Pass
5 Pass 7 All Pass

Opening 2 +17 IMPs

3. Olympiad Round-of-16 2004

West deals A West North East South
Both vul A 5 3 Takano Saaid Teramoto El Sheikh
A Q 10 9 5 2 Pass 2 Pass 2
A K 7 Pass 3 Pass 3
Q 9 3 2 Table 10 8 7 6 Pass 3 NT Pass 4
Q 9 8 6 10 4 Pass 4 Pass 5
J 7 8 4 3 Pass 5 NT Pass 6
9 6 3 Q 5 4 2 Pass 7 All Pass
K J 5 4
K J 7 2
K 6
J 10 8

Egypt N-S Japan N-S West North East South
7 South 6 North El Ahmady Kaku Sadek Takayama
Lead: 7 Lead: 8 Pass 1 Pass 1
Made 7 +2140 Made 6 +1370 Pass 3 Pass 3
Egypt +13 IMPs Pass 3 Pass 4
Pass 4 NT Pass 5
Pass 6 All Pass

Opening 2 +13 IMPs

4. USBC Semifinal 2000

West deals K 10 West North East South
Both vul Q 9 8 7 Weinstein Larsen Levin Meltzer
10 8 3 Pass Pass 2 Pass
J 10 6 3 2 Pass 2 Pass
5 4 Table A Q J 9 8 2 2 NT Pass 3 Pass
K 6 A J 10 5 4 2 3 Pass 4 Pass
A 7 5 4 2 — 5 Pass 5 All Pass
Q 7 4 2 A
7 6 3
3
K Q J 9 6
K 9 8 5

Meltzer N-S Schwartz N-S West North East South
5 East 6 East Martel Rosenberg Stansby Zia
Lead: K Lead: 3 Pass Pass 1 Pass
Made 6 +680 Made 6 +1430 1 NT Pass 3 Pass
Meltzer +13 IMPs 3 Pass 5 Pass
6 Pass Pass Pass

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

Opening 1 +13 IMPs

5. USBC Final 2003

West deals Q 6 2 West North East South
E-W vul K Q 8 7 Wildavsky Welland Doub Fallenius
10 7 3 Pass Pass 2 Pass
6 3 2 2 Pass 2 NT Pass
J 8 3 Table A K 9 7 4 Pass Pass
10 9 3 2
9 6 4 2 A Q J
9 8 7 5 A K 10
10 5
A J 6 5 4
K 8 5
Q J 4

Welland N-S Cohen N-S West North East South
2 NT East 1 East WeinsteinH Landen Garner Pratap
Lead: 4 Lead: Q Pass Pass 1 Pass
Down 2 -200 Made 2 +110 Pass Pass
Welland +7 IMPs

Quiz 8B71 Main Top Escape from The Rock

Opening 1 +7 IMPs

6. USBC Semifinal 2005

West deals J 7 5 4 3 West North East South
None vul 6 4 3 Boyd Welland Robinson Fallenius
6 Pass Pass 2 Pass
A K 5 3 2 Pass 3 NT Pass
K 9 8 2 Table A Pass Pass
A J 2 K 10 5
9 7 4 A K Q J 10 8 3
9 8 6 Q 2
Q 10 6
Q 9 8 7
5 2
J 10 7 4

Welland N-S Robinson N-S West North East South
3 NT East 6 East Rosenberg Bramley Zia Feldman
Lead: 8 Lead: 8 Pass Pass 1 Pass
Made 6 +490 Made 6 +920 1 Pass 3 Pass
Welland +10 IMPs 5 Pass 6 Pass
Pass Pass

Opening 1 +10 IMPs

Word is out that Zia will headed for Alcatraz after stealing this slam.

7. USBC Round-of-16 2006

West deals 4 2 West North East South
Both vul Q 6 Fout Rosenberg Roman Zia
10 5 3 2 Pass Pass 2 Pass
Q J 9 7 3 3 Pass 3 Pass
A J Table K Q 10 9 6 3 NT Pass 4 Pass
7 5 4 3 A K 9 8 4 Pass 5 Pass
Q 9 8 A K J 7 6 Pass 6 All Pass
A 10 6 4 —
8 7 5 3
J 10 2
6 4
K 8 5 2

Jacobs N-S Fout N-S West North East South
6 East 4 East Katz Ehlers Jacobs Rengstorff
Lead: 2 Lead: 6 Pass Pass 1 Pass
Made 6 +1430 Made 6 +680 1 NT Pass 2 Pass
Fout +13 IMPs 2 Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 3 Pass
3 Pass 4 All Pass

Opening 2 +13 IMPs

8. World Championship Round-of-64 2006

West deals 10 West North East South
E-W vul J 9 8 7 3 Casen Fantoni Krekorian Nunes
K 10 7 4 Pass Pass 2 Pass
J 9 3 2 Pass 2 Pass
6 Table A Q 5 4 3 2 3 Pass 4 Pass
6 5 4 2 A 5 Pass 6 All Pass
Q 8 6 A 2
Q 8 7 5 4 A K 10 6
K J 9 8 7
K Q 10
J 9 5 3
2

Angelini N-S Schwartz N-S West North East South
6 East 1 East Lauria El Ahmady Versace Sadek
Lead: K Lead: K Pass Pass 1 Pass
Down 2 -200 Made 2 +110 Pass Pass
Angelini +7 IMPs

Opening 1 +7 IMPs

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.

9. Spingold Semifinal 2008

West deals J 5 2 West North East South
Both vul K J 4 2 Seamon Welland Cayne Glubok
7 6 3 2 Pass 2 2
8 5 2 2 NT Pass 3 Pass
A K Table 3 3 Pass 3 NT Pass
A 10 6 Q 9 8 7 5 4 Pass 4 Pass
K Q 10 9 8 5 A J 4 4 Pass 6 Pass
A J Q 10 7 4 6 All Pass
Q 10 9 8 7 6 4
3
2
K 9 6 3

Welland N-S Weed N-S West North East South
6 East 7 West Garner Nunes WeinsteinH Fantoni
Lead: 2 Lead: 2 1 Pass 1 3
Made 6 +1430 Down 1 -100 Dbl Pass 4 Pass
Weed +17 IMPs 7 Pass Pass Pass

Opening 2 +17 IMPs

10. USBC Round-of-16-B 2009

West deals 6 4 3 West North East South
N-S vul Q 10 9 6 Hamman Grue Zia Cheek
K Q 9 4 2 Pass 2 Pass
J 6 2 Pass 2 Pass
A J Table K Q 8 7 3 Pass 3 Pass
A K J 7 3 2 8 4 Pass Pass Pass
8 J 5 3 2
A K 10 5 9 8 4 2
10 9 5 2
5 4
A 10 7 6
Q 7 3

Jacobs N-S Nickell N-S West North East South
4 West 5 West Levin Rodwell Weinstein Meckstroth
Lead: K Lead: K 1 Pass 1 NT Pass
Down 1 -50 Made 5 +400 3 Pass 4 Pass
Jacobs +10 IMPs 4 Pass 4 Pass
4 NT Pass 5 All Pass

Opening 1 +10 IMPs

Results are from actual play, so the winning bids are not necessarily correct in theory.

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.

Quiz 8B71 Main Top Escape from The Rock

West deals	6 5 4		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	Q J 10 8 7		Meckstroth	Chagas	Rodwell	Branco
	—		Pass	Pass	Pass	2
	A 10 8 6 4		Pass	2	Pass	2 NT
7 3		J 9 8 2	Pass	3	Pass	3
6 5 2		9 4	Pass	3	Pass	3
A 10 6 3		J 9 5 4	Pass	3 NT	All Pass
Q 9 3 2		K J 5
	A K Q 10
	A K 3
	K Q 8 7 2
	7

Brazil N-S	USA1 N-S	`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
3 NT South	6 North	Janz	Nickell	Mello	Freeman
Lead: 2	Lead: 4	Pass	Pass	Pass	1
Made 4 +430	Made 6 +980	Pass	1	Pass	2
USA1 +11 IMPs		Pass	3	Pass	3
		Pass	4	Pass	5
		Pass	6	All Pass

West deals	K 9 7 5		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	5		Versace	Allana	Lauria	Fazli
	Q 9 7 5 2		Pass	Pass	2	Pass
	J 7 2		2	Pass	2	Pass
A Q 10 4		J	2	Pass	3	Pass
Q 7 3		A K 9 4 2	3	Pass	3	Pass
10 3		A J	4	Pass	4	Pass
10 9 6 5		A K Q 8 4	4	Pass	4 NT	Pass
	8 6 3 2		5	Pass	6	All Pass
	J 10 8 6
	K 8 6 4
	3

Pakistan N-S	Italy N-S	West	`North`	East	`South`
6 East	7 East	Jafer	Fantoni	Khan	Nunes
Lead: 6	Lead: 2	Pass	Pass	1	Pass
Made 6 +1370	Down 3 -300	2	Pass	4	Pass
Italy +17 IMPs		4	Pass	4 NT	Pass
		5	Pass	5	Pass
		5	Pass	7	All Pass

West deals	A		West	North	East	South
Both vul	A 5 3		Takano	Saaid	Teramoto	El Sheikh
	A Q 10 9 5 2		Pass	2	Pass	2
	A K 7		Pass	3	Pass	3
Q 9 3 2		10 8 7 6	Pass	3 NT	Pass	4
Q 9 8 6		10 4	Pass	4	Pass	5
J 7		8 4 3	Pass	5 NT	Pass	6
9 6 3		Q 5 4 2	Pass	7	All Pass
	K J 5 4
	K J 7 2
	K 6
	J 10 8

Egypt N-S	Japan N-S	West	North	East	South
7 South	6 North	El Ahmady	Kaku	Sadek	Takayama
Lead: 7	Lead: 8	Pass	1	Pass	1
Made 7 +2140	Made 6 +1370	Pass	3	Pass	3
Egypt +13 IMPs		Pass	3	Pass	4
		Pass	4 NT	Pass	5
		Pass	6	All Pass

West deals	K 10		West	North	East	South
Both vul	Q 9 8 7		Weinstein	Larsen	Levin	Meltzer
	10 8 3		Pass	Pass	2	Pass
	J 10 6 3		2	Pass	2	Pass
5 4		A Q J 9 8 2	2 NT	Pass	3	Pass
K 6		A J 10 5 4 2	3	Pass	4	Pass
A 7 5 4 2		—	5	Pass	5	All Pass
Q 7 4 2		A
	7 6 3
	3
	K Q J 9 6
	K 9 8 5

Meltzer N-S	Schwartz N-S	West	North	East	South
5 East	6 East	Martel	Rosenberg	Stansby	Zia
Lead: K	Lead: 3	Pass	Pass	1	Pass
Made 6 +680	Made 6 +1430	1 NT	Pass	3	Pass
Meltzer +13 IMPs		3	Pass	5	Pass
		6	Pass	Pass	Pass

West deals	Q 6 2		West	`North`	East	`South`
E-W vul	K Q 8 7		Wildavsky	Welland	Doub	Fallenius
	10 7 3		Pass	Pass	2	Pass
	6 3 2		2	Pass	2 NT	Pass
J 8 3		A K 9 7 4	Pass	Pass
10 9		3 2
9 6 4 2		A Q J
9 8 7 5		A K 10
	10 5
	A J 6 5 4
	K 8 5
	Q J 4

Welland N-S	Cohen N-S	West	`North`	East	`South`
2 NT East	1 East	WeinsteinH	Landen	Garner	Pratap
Lead: 4	Lead: Q	Pass	Pass	1	Pass
Down 2 -200	Made 2 +110	Pass	Pass
Welland +7 IMPs

West deals	J 7 5 4 3		`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
None vul	6 4 3		Boyd	Welland	Robinson	Fallenius
	6		Pass	Pass	2	Pass
	A K 5 3		2	Pass	3 NT	Pass
K 9 8 2		A	Pass	Pass
A J 2		K 10 5
9 7 4		A K Q J 10 8 3
9 8 6		Q 2
	Q 10 6
	Q 9 8 7
	5 2
	J 10 7 4

Welland N-S	Robinson N-S	`West`	`North`	`East`	`South`
3 NT East	6 East	Rosenberg	Bramley	Zia	Feldman
Lead: 8	Lead: 8	Pass	Pass	1	Pass
Made 6 +490	Made 6 +920	1	Pass	3	Pass
Welland +10 IMPs		5	Pass	6	Pass
		Pass	Pass

Jacobs N-S	Fout N-S	West	North	East	South
6 East	4 East	Katz	Ehlers	Jacobs	Rengstorff
Lead: 2	Lead: 6	Pass	Pass	1	Pass
Made 6 +1430	Made 6 +680	1 NT	Pass	2	Pass
Fout +13 IMPs		2	Pass	2	Pass
		2	Pass	3	Pass
		3	Pass	4	All Pass

Angelini N-S	Schwartz N-S	West	`North`	East	`South`
6 East	1 East	Lauria	El Ahmady	Versace	Sadek
Lead: K	Lead: K	Pass	Pass	1	Pass
Down 2 -200	Made 2 +110	Pass	Pass
Angelini +7 IMPs

West deals	J 5 2		West	North	East	South
Both vul	K J 4 2		Seamon	Welland	Cayne	Glubok
	7 6 3		2	Pass	2	2
	8 5 2		2 NT	Pass	3	Pass
A K		3	3	Pass	3 NT	Pass
A 10 6		Q 9 8 7 5	4	Pass	4	Pass
K Q 10 9 8 5		A J 4	4	Pass	6	Pass
A J		Q 10 7 4	6	All Pass
	Q 10 9 8 7 6 4
	3
	2
	K 9 6 3

Welland N-S	Weed N-S	West	North	East	South
6 East	7 West	Garner	Nunes	WeinsteinH	Fantoni
Lead: 2	Lead: 2	1	Pass	1	3
Made 6 +1430	Down 1 -100	Dbl	Pass	4	Pass
Weed +17 IMPs		7	Pass	Pass	Pass

Jacobs N-S	Nickell N-S	`West`	North	`East`	South
4 West	5 West	Levin	Rodwell	Weinstein	Meckstroth
Lead: K	Lead: K	1	Pass	1 NT	Pass
Down 1 -50	Made 5 +400	3	Pass	4	Pass
Jacobs +10 IMPs		4	Pass	4	Pass
		4 NT	Pass	5	All Pass

Escape from The Rock

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

Actual Results

1. Bermuda Bowl Final 1999

2. Olympiad Quarterfinal 2004

3. Olympiad Round-of-16 2004

4. USBC Semifinal 2000

5. USBC Final 2003

6. USBC Semifinal 2005

7. USBC Round-of-16 2006

8. World Championship Round-of-64 2006

9. Spingold Semifinal 2008

10. USBC Round-of-16-B 2009

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