Challenge 7Y89 MainAnalyses


Turin Polls Raise Cain


Scores by Richard Pavlicek

Have my bidding polls been causing turmoil in Italy? This title may seem as mysterious as the Shroud of Turin, or as confusing as the Book of Genesis, but it definitely provides a clue to the tournament from which these problems came. The pictures also should help with the location, but don’t get hung up on that. Simply choose your call as South on each of the six problems.

In July of 2004 these problems were presented as a poll, with 1185 entrants from 118 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 (except as noted) 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.

Don’t bother to get out your maps of Turin, or any biblical references, as these are only serpentine clues. Just bid ‘em up! I’m sure any Abel-bodied person will get at least one right.

Problem 1

IMPsNone VulYou, South, hold:
 
West
North
EAST
1 C
South
?
S 7
H A K 10 9
D A Q J 8
C A 10 6 5
 
Your call? 1 D  1 H  1 NT  2 NT*

*hearts + diamonds

Problem 2

IMPsN-S VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

4 C1
NORTH
1 S
Dbl
East
2 C
Pass
South
Pass
?
S A 7
H 9 7 2
D Q J 9 6 4 3
C 4 3
 
1. weakYour call? 4 D  4 S  4 NT  5 C  5 D  6 D

Problem 3

IMPsN-S VulYou, South, hold:
 
WEST
1 D
North
1 H
East
3 C1
South
?
S A 8 6
H J 10 9 5
D K 8
C Q J 10 2
 
1. weakYour call? X (penalty)  3 D  3 H  3 NT  4 H

Problem 4

IMPsN-S VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

Pass
Pass
NORTH
2 NT
3 H
4 H
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
3 D1
4 D
?
S 8
H 10 8 7 5 4 3
D A K 10 9 8 2
C
 
1. Jacoby transferYour call? 4 S  5 C  5 D  5 H  6 D  6 H

Problem 5

IMPsBoth VulYou, South, hold:
 
WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
Pass
2 C1
2 NT
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
1 H
2 D
?
S A 7
H A Q J 9 8 7
D A K 10 6
C 7
 
1. natural (not Drury)Your call? 3 H  3 S  3 NT  4 C (Gerber)  4 H  5 NT (pick slam)  6 H

Problem 6

IMPsN-S VulYou, South, hold:
 
West

Pass
North

3 C1
EAST
2 D
Pass
South
Dbl
?
S A Q 9 7
H A K 7 3
D A 10 8
C 9 3
 
1. 0-9, naturalYour call? 3 D  3 H  3 S  3 NT  None*

*would have bid 2 NT over 2 D

 Click to see how you did

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© 2004 Richard Pavlicek