Second Place Rose Garden

Living in South Florida, the mild weather year-round (barring hurricanes) has allowed one of my favorite hobbies: growing roses. Recently my garden of hybrid pink roses (that’s right, pink, now shut up) took second place in the annual judging. Alas, my wife was so thrilled she cut all the roses into corsages and bouquets, so my days as a rose gardener may be over. But I digress; never mind.

These six bidding problems are from a past tournament. Perhaps my clues will help you guess the year and location, but don’t worry about that. As South, simply select your call.

In July 2005 these problems were presented as a poll, with 1307 entrants from 119 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.

As you stop to smell the roses, watch out for thorns, and remember: I never promised you a rose garden!

Problem 1

IMPs		None vul		You, South, hold:
West Pass 1 NT	North Pass 2	East 1 3	South 1 ?	A 10 9 7 4 7 3 10 A K J 9 3
			Your call? Pass 3  3  4  4  4

Problem 2

IMPs		None vul		You, South, hold:
West Pass Pass	North 1 3	East Pass Pass	South Pass 1 NT ?	4 3 A 9 7 4 2 K 8 7 6 5 7
			Your call? 3  3  3  3 NT 4

Problem 3

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

Problem 4

IMPs		E-W vul		You, South, hold:
West Pass Pass	North 1 NT 2 3 NT	East Pass Pass Pass	South 2 3 1 ?	K 10 6 A 6 A Q 10 7 5 2 A 4
1. game force			Your call? 4  4  4  4  4 NT 5 NT 6 NT

Problem 5

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

*Gerber

Problem 6

IMPs		None vul		You, South, hold:
West Pass	North 1	East Pass Pass	South 1 ?	7 5 3 9 5 4 3 A K 7 A J 5
			Your call and opinion?	A. 1 , agree with 1 B. 1 , disagree with 1 C. 1 NT, agree with 1 D. 1 NT, disagree with 1 E.  2 , agree with 1 F.  2 , disagree with 1

 Click to see how you did

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© 2005 Richard Pavlicek