BRIDGE

Bidding quiz

Your right-hand opponent opens with One Notrump, both sides vulnerable. What would you bid with each of the following hands?

1. Pass. It is much too dangerous to bid two spades with such a flimsy suit and only 12 high-card points against an opponent who has 15 to 17 (or 16 to 18) points and scattered highcard strength. You could suffer a huge penalty if the next player had some spade length and most of the missing high cards. A double of one notrump would be equally risky because you can't be sure of setting the contract, and because partner might remove the double to two hearts.

2. Double. With an opening notrump bid of your own and your high cards wellsituated behind the opening bidder's high cards, you double for penalties (unless your partnership has some other agreement, the double of an opening notrump bid is not for takeout). There are not many honor cards left for the next two players, and you hope that partner has his fair share of them. If partner bids two of any suit, which he might do with a weak hand and a long suit, you should pass, as there is almost no chance for game.

3. Two spades. Though you have only 11 high-card points, your 6-5 distribution and strong suits more than compensate for your lack of honor cards; indeed, a game is well within the realm of possibility. A suit bid over one notrump implies a good suit and reasonable safety, both of which you have.

4. Double. Here you have a genuine choice between bidding two hearts or doubling, but there are two factors that favor the double. First, if everyone passes, you have an extremely effective lead against one notrump doubled. Second, if partner pulls the double to two of a minor suit, you can then bid two hearts.

5. Pass. Again, the safety principle applies, as in the first hand. Sometimes you have to pass as a matter of prudence, even though inaction might result in your missing a makeable contract. While you might feel that your side can make a partscore in one of your three suits, the fact is that there's no safe way to explore that possibility. The chance of making a game is remote, and it doesn't make much sense to risk a large penalty when only a partscore is at stake.

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CHESS SOLUTION:

Winning is 1...Qf2 !! As both 2...Qxe2 and 2...Qf1 # are threatened, White is forced to play 2 Ng3

(2 Rxf2 ? , Re1 + mates) Now 2 ...Qe1 + ! ; 3 Rxe1, Rxe1 + ; 4 Nf1, Rxf1 #