Quiz 8B71   Main

Escape from The Rock

by Richard Pavlicek

As Americans, we take great pride in our prisons!
Other countries waste their 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 bid, then compare your choice with the two experts who faced the same situation in real life and bid differently. 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

IMPs, None Vul

A K Q 10
A K 3
K Q 8 7 2
7
Opening bid in fourth seat? 1   2    

1999 Bermuda Bowl Final

Brazil vs USA1	6 5 4 Q J 10 8 7 — A 10 8 6 4
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
None Vul	A K Q 10 A K 3 K Q 8 7 2 7

Meckstroth WEST Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Chagas North Pass 2 3 3 3 NT

Rodwell East Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Branco South 2 2 NT 3 3

South played 3 NT Lead: 2 Made 4

Janz WEST Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Nickell North Pass 1 3 4 6

Mello East Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Freeman South 1 2 3 5

North played 6 Lead: 4 Made 6

Problem 2

IMPs, Your Side Vul

J
A K 9 4 2
A J
A K Q 8 4
Opening bid in third seat? 1   2    

2004 Olympiad Quarterfinal

Pakistan vs Italy	K 9 7 5 5 Q 9 7 5 2 J 7 2
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
E-W Vul	8 6 3 2 J 10 8 6 K 8 6 4 3

Versace WEST Pass 2 2 3 4 4 5

Allana North Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Lauria East 2 2 3 3 4 4 NT 6

Fazli South Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

East played 6 Lead: 6 Made 6

Jafer WEST Pass 2 4 5 5

Fantoni North Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Khan East 1 4 4 NT 5 7

Nunes South Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

East played 7 Lead: 2 Down 3

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Problem 3

IMPs, Both Vul

A
A 5 3
A Q 10 9 5 2
A K 7
Opening bid in second seat? 1   2    

2004 Olympiad Round of 16

Egypt vs Japan	A A 5 3 A Q 10 9 5 2 A K 7
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
Both Vul	K J 5 4 K J 7 2 K 6 J 10 8

Takano WEST Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Saaid North 2 3 3 NT 4 5 NT 7

Teramoto East Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

El Sheikh South 2 3 4 5 6

South played 7 Lead: 7 Made 7

El Ahmady WEST Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Kaku North 1 3 3 4 NT 6

Sadek East Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Takayama South 1 3 4 5

North played 6 Lead: 8 Made 6

Problem 4

IMPs, Both Vul

A Q J 9 8 2
A J 10 5 4 2
—
A
Opening bid in third seat? 1   2    

2000 USBC Semifinal

Meltzer vs Schwartz	K 10 Q 9 8 7 10 8 3 J 10 6 3
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
Both Vul	7 6 3 3 K Q J 9 6 K 9 8 5

Weinstein WEST Pass 2 2 NT 3 5

Larsen North Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Levin East 2 2 3 4 5

Meltzer South Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

East played 5 Lead: K Made 6

Martel WEST Pass 1 NT 3 6

Rosenberg North Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Stansby East 1 3 5

Zia South Pass Pass Pass

East played 6 Lead: 3 Made 6

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

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Problem 5

IMPs, Your Side Vul

A K 9 7 4
3 2
A Q J
A K 10
Opening bid in third seat? 1   2    

2003 USBC Final

Welland vs Cohen	Q 6 2 K Q 8 7 10 7 3 6 3 2
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
E-W Vul	10 5 A J 6 5 4 K 8 5 Q J 4

Wildavsky WEST Pass 2

Welland North Pass Pass

Doub East 2 2 NT

Fallenius South Pass All Pass

East played 2 NT Lead: 4 Down 2

WeinsteinH WEST Pass Pass

Landen North Pass Pass

Garner East 1

Pratap South Pass

East played 1 Lead: Q Made 2

Problem 6

IMPs, None Vul

A
K 10 5
A K Q J 10 8 3
Q 2
Opening bid in third seat? 1   2    

2005 USBC Semifinal

Welland vs Robinson	J 7 5 4 3 6 4 3 6 A K 5 3
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
None Vul	Q 10 6 Q 9 8 7 5 2 J 10 7 4

Boyd WEST Pass 2

Welland North Pass Pass

Robinson East 2 3 NT

Fallenius South Pass All Pass

East played 3 NT Lead: 8 Made 6

Rosenberg WEST Pass 1 5

Bramley North Pass Pass Pass

Zia East 1 3 6

Feldman South Pass Pass All Pass

East played 6 Lead: 8 Made 6

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

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Problem 7

IMPs, Both Vul

K Q 10 9 6
A K 9 8
A K J 7
—
Opening bid in third seat? 1   2    

2006 USBC Round of 16

Jacobs vs Fout	4 2 Q 6 10 5 3 2 Q J 9 7 3
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 —
Both Vul	8 7 5 3 J 10 2 6 4 K 8 5 2

Fout WEST Pass 3 3 NT 4 6

Rosenberg North Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Roman East 2 3 4 5 6

Zia South Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

East played 6 Lead: 2 Made 6

Katz WEST Pass 1 NT 2 2 3

Ehlers North Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Jacobs East 1 2 2 3 4

Rengstorff South Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

East played 4 Lead: 6 Made 6

Problem 8

IMPs, Your Side Vul

A Q 5 4 3 2
A
A 2
A K 10 6
Opening bid in third seat? 1   2    

2006 World Championship Round of 64

Angelini vs Schwartz	10 J 9 8 7 3 K 10 7 4 J 9 3
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
E-W Vul	K J 9 8 7 K Q 10 J 9 5 3 2

Casen WEST Pass 2 3 5

Fantoni North Pass Pass Pass Pass

Krekorian East 2 2 4 6

Nunes South Pass Pass Pass All Pass

East played 6 Lead: K Down 2

Lauria WEST Pass Pass

El Ahmady North Pass Pass

Versace East 1

Sadek South Pass

East played 1 Lead: K Made 2

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

IMPs, Both Vul

A K
A 10 6
K Q 10 9 8 5
A J
Opening bid as dealer? 1   2    

2008 Spingold Semifinal

Welland vs Weed	J 5 2 K J 4 2 7 6 3 8 5 2
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
Both Vul	Q 10 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 K 9 6 3

Seamon WEST 2 2 NT 3 4 4 6

Welland North Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Cayne East 2 3 3 NT 4 6

Glubok South 2 Pass Pass Pass Pass

East played 6 Lead: 2 Made 6

Garner WEST 1 Dbl 7

Nunes North Pass Pass All Pass

WeinsteinH East 1 4

Fantoni South 3 Pass

West played 7 Lead: 2 Down 1

Problem 10

IMPs, Opponents Vul

A J
A K J 7 3 2
8
A K 10 5
Opening bid as dealer? 1   2    

2009 USBC Round of 16B

Jacobs vs Nickell	6 4 3 Q 10 9 6 K Q 9 4 J 6
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
N-S Vul	10 9 5 2 5 4 A 10 7 6 Q 7 3

Hamman WEST 2 2 3 4

Grue North Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Zia East 2 2 3

Cheek South Pass Pass Pass

West played 4 Lead: K Down 1

Levin WEST 1 3 4 4 NT

Rodwell North Pass Pass Pass Pass

Weinstein East 1 NT 4 4 5

Meckstroth South Pass Pass Pass All Pass

West played 5 Lead: K Made 5

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