Down by the Riverside

Lay down your sword and shield! Take off your traveling shoes and try this bidding challenge based on six problems from a past tournament. When and where? That’s for me to know and for you to find out, though you are welcome to guess from the clues; but don’t let that bother you. Just choose your call as South from the choices offered.

In November 2001 these problems were presented as a poll, with 714 entrants from 98 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.

Are you ready? Then take off your socks, go down to the levee, and get your feet wet!

Problem 1

IMPs		N-S vul		You, South, hold:
West 2 1	North Pass 4	East Pass 4	South 1 ?	A K 5 A J 10 9 8 9 K Q 9 7
1. weak			Your call? Pass Dbl 4 NT 5  5

Problem 2

IMPs		N-S vul		You, South, hold:
West 1	North 1	East 2 1	South ?	A K 4 2 K J 9 9 8 7 7 5 4
1. weak			Your call? Pass X* 2  2 NT 3  3  3

*penalty

Problem 3

IMPs		None vul		You, South, hold:
West 3	North Dbl	East 5	South Pass ?	Q 9 8 6 4 K Q 10 7 6 5 3 5
			Your call? Pass Dbl 5  5  5 NT 6

Problem 4

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

Problem 5

IMPs		E-W vul		You, South, hold:
West	North	East	South ?	Q 9 4 3 A Q 9 8 7 6 2 10 8 —
			Your call? Pass 1  2  3  4

Problem 6

IMPs		N-S vul		You, South, hold:
West 3 2	North Dbl	East 1 1 Pass	South Pass ?	A 9 3 2 5 3 2 9 4 A J 6 3
1. often 4 cards 2. limit raise			Your call? Pass 3 NT 4  4  5

 Click to see how you did

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© 2001 Richard Pavlicek