Challenge 8W33 Main Analyses

Stolen Crown Blinds Union

by Richard Pavlicek

After my last poll, I received an e-mail from the Filipino Labor Union about the all-American final in their homeland. “How dare you steal our crown without representation!” they complained, and I was slapped with a libel suit for “malicious publication.” I replied immediately hoping to appease them and even offered to host an all-Filipino tourney in Florida. Their reply: “See you in court!”

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 May 2005 these problems were presented as a poll, with 1435 entrants from 126 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. Object is to find the best call based on judgment so only basic conventions are allowed. For a system reference, see Standard American Bridge.

Hopefully, your bridge isn’t falling down, so forget about libel suits and take a look at these suits:

Problem 1

Total Points		N-S Vul		You, South, hold:

`WEST` Pass	North Pass	`East` 1	South ?	A 9 4 3 K 7 6 3 A A 10 9 7

			Your call? P X 1 1 1 NT 2 (Michaels)

Problem 2

Total Points		E-W Vul		You, South, hold:

WEST Pass 2	`North` 1 3	East 1 Pass	`South` 1 NT ?	Q 8 5 3 K 3 2 10 8 7 3 A 8

			Your call? 3 3 NT 4 4 4 4 NT 5

Problem 3

Total Points		N-S Vul		You, South, hold:

`West` 1	NORTH 1 Pass	`East` Pass 4	South 1 ?	— K J 9 8 7 5 4 A Q 9 8 K 4

			Your call? 4 NT 5 5 5 5 NT 6 6

Problem 4

Total Points		None Vul		You, South, hold:

`WEST` Pass Pass	`North` 2 3	`East` Pass Pass	`South` 2 NT¹ ?	A K 10 4 K 6 A K 8 K Q 10 8

1. asks for feature if not minimum			Your call? 3 3 NT 4 4 4 4 NT 5

Problem 5

Total Points		N-S Vul		You, South, hold:

`West` Pass Pass	North 1 3 ¹	`EAST` Pass Pass Pass	South 1 2 ?	J A Q 10 8 7 5 A 2 K J 9 4

1. forcing			Your call? 3 NT 4 4 4 4 4 NT 5

Problem 6

Total Points		E-W Vul		You, South, hold:

West Pass Pass	`North` 1 3 ¹	EAST Pass Pass Pass	`South` 1 1 ?	A Q 10 8 A Q J 9 3 2 K 10 2

1. forcing			Your call? 3 3 NT 4 4 4 NT 5

Click to see how you did

Challenge 8W33 Main Analyses Scores Top Stolen Crown Blinds Union