Challenge 7Y41 MainAnalyses


This Land Is Your Land


Scores by Richard Pavlicek

Bridge players “from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,” and anywhere else, are invited to try this bidding challenge based on six problems from a past tournament. When and where is my little secret, but you can bet it’s in the U.S.A. All you have to do is select your call as South from the choices offered.

In July 2003 these problems were presented as a poll, with 1083 entrants from 113 locations.
The poll is closed, but you can try still 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.

So join the fun and help America celebrate its 227th birthday! To get the fireworks going, I’ll even start you out with a nine-bagger.

Problem 1

Total PointsN-S VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

Pass
North

1 H
East

Dbl
SOUTH
1 C
?
S A
H
D K 10 4
C A 10 9 8 6 5 4 3 2
 
Your call? 2 C  3 C  3 NT  4 C  5 C

Problem 2

Total PointsBoth VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

Pass
3 H
North

2 D
Pass
East

2 H
Pass
SOUTH
1 D
2 S
?
S A K 7 6
H K
D A Q 9 8 5
C K 10 6
 
Your call? 3 S  3 NT  4 C  4 D  5 D

Problem 3

Total PointsE-W VulYou, South, hold:
 
West
North
EAST
1 D
South
?
S
H A Q 9 7 5 3
D 5
C Q J 10 7 6 5
 
Your call? 1 H  2 C  2 H  2 NT  3 H  4 H  4 NT

Problem 4

Total PointsNone VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

Pass
Pass
North

1 H
2 NT
East

Pass
Pass
SOUTH
1 D
2 C
?
S 10
H A 7
D A K 9 3 2
C K J 9 7 4
 
Your call? 3 C  3 D  3 H  3 S  3 NT  4 C

Problem 5

Total PointsBoth VulYou, South, hold:
 
WEST
Pass
Pass
North
1 C
1 S
East
Pass
Pass
South
1 H
?
S Q 4 2
H J 10 8 6 5
D K J 10 7 4
C
 
Your call? 1 NT  2 D  2 H  2 S

Problem 6

Total PointsE-W VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

2 D
NORTH
Pass
Pass
East
1 S
3 D
South
?
?
S 10
H A 6 4 3
D
C A K Q 8 7 5 4 3
 
Your call or calls? A. 2 C, 3 H
B. 2 C, 4 C
C. 2 C, 5 C
D. 2 C, 6 C
E. 4 C immediately
F. 5 C immediately
G. 6 C immediately

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 7Y41 MainAnalysesScoresTop This Land Is Your Land

Credits to Woody Guthrie, composer of “This Land Is Your Land”
© 2003 Richard Pavlicek