December 2008 - 30

The Bidding Box

Bridge Bulletin auction: The same
as Horton-Tacchi.
Scores: 2 10; 2 7; 3 5; 2
4; 2 3; 3 2
Rigal-Picus 17, Horton-Tacchi 22

Problem 3

South deals. E-W vulnerable.
South opens 3.
West
75
Q8
AKJ643
Q84

East
A3
 K 10 6 2
2
AKJ972

Rigal

North

Picus

Pass
5

(Pass) 4
All Pass

South
(3)
(Pass)

Rigal suspected they were in the
slam zone, but he was concerned that
4, while natural, would not necessarily be forcing by a passed hand,
so he simply raised his partner's suit.
There was also the matter of whether
Picus was already bidding some of
his values in the balancing position.
Picus had first-round control in
spades and second-round controls in
the red suits, but she had no particular reason to make a move over 5.
Horton North
Pass
4
5

Tacchi

(Pass) 4
(Pass) 4
All Pass

South
(3)
(Pass)
(Pass)

Tacchi was uncertain about the 4
bid, so he showed his second suit.
Without a control in spades, Horton
could do no more than raise to game.
Bridge Bulletin auction: (3)-
Pass-(Pass)-4; (Pass)-5.
Scores: 6 11; 5 9; 3NT 8; 4
5; 5 3; 4 2; 6NT 1
Rigal-Picus 26, Horton-Tacchi 31

Practice this set and other pre-dealt sets
of boards at www.biddingquest.com

30

Problem 4

West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
AQ63
K974
7
KQ63
Rigal
1
3
Pass

East
85
QJ83
KQ3
9742
Picus
1
4

Rigal's 14-point hand improved
when the heart fit was uncovered,
and Picus moved on to game, neither
knowing about the wasted diamond
values in the East hand.
Horton
1
3
Pass

Tacchi
1
3

Horton's second bid was a minisplinter, showing a raise to 3 with
a singleton or void in diamonds. This
did not excite Tacchi, who used the
information to put on the brakes.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-1;
3-Pass.
Scores: 2 11; 3 9; 2 8; 3
7; 4 5; 1NT 4; 2NT 2; 4 1
Rigal-Picus 31, Horton-Tacchi 40

Problem 5

North deals. None vulnerable.
West
 10 4
A
AK74
 A Q J 10 8 3

East
AKQJ983
86
 10 8 3
4

Rigal

Picus
4
5
6

4NT
5NT
Pass

Picus and Rigal maintain a "relatively disciplined" bidding style in
second seat, so although 1 might
have been in the running as an opening bid, 4 seems to tell the story
more accurately - about seven
tricks in an otherwise weak hand.

Rigal checked for key cards via 4NT,
and Picus admitted to two with the
trump queen. Although it was unlikely Picus would have a king to go with
the top three spades, Rigal checked
anyway with 5NT (asking for specific
kings). Having none, Picus signed off
in 6.
Horton
2
3
4
4NT
5NT
7

Tacchi
1
2
3
4
5
6
Pass

Tacchi liked his hand as a one-level
opener. Horton's 2 was forcing to
game unless he rebid his suit, so 3
showed a strong hand. Tacchi kept
bidding spades, then admitted to two
key cards plus the trump queen in
response to 4NT. When Horton made
the grand slam try of 5NT, Tacchi
thought his singleton club might be
worth mentioning. If 6 showed the
K, the grand in spades was going
to be easy. Even if it was a singleton,
Horton liked his chances of establishing the suit via ruffs because he had
so many entries to his hand.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 4-4NT;
5-6.
Scores: 7 12; 6 8; 6 5; 5
4; 6NT 3; 5 2
Rigal-Picus 39, Horton-Tacchi 52

Problem 6

East deals. E-W vulnerable.
West
AQJ5
A8
 A 10 5 4
 10 6 2

East
8
75
KQ982
AJ974

Rigal

Picus
Pass
3
3NT
4
Pass

1NT
3
4
6

Bridge Bulletin
http://www.biddingquest.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2008
