"Stop on Red Week" by Marti Ronemus

How often do bridge players ignore the red light? If you're one of them, then "Stop on Red" week is just for you. Once a player has limited his hand, the yellow light is blinking, with red shortly to follow. Cross only with the light in today's quiz.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A 10 9 2
♥ A 6 5
♦ A K 6 5 3
♣ 3

Q: 1 - As South, what's the next bid?

South	West	North	East
1♦	pass	1♥	pass
1♠	pass	2♥	pass
?

A: 3♥: Pard's 2♥ bid was a limiting bid, promising a six-card Heart suit and no more than 9 pts. We reevaluate our hand in favor of Hearts (we'll be dummy) and get 17 pts. We creep into the intersection with an invitational bid. It's partner's problem now. Whew.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ A Q 7 6
♥ 6 5
♦ 9 6
♣ A K J 10 5

Q: 2 - South's rebid?

South	West	North	East
1♣	pass	1♠	pass
?

A: 3♠: When you picked this hand up, it was only worth 15-ish points, but the second your partner bid Spades, the picture changed and the light changed to green. Now we can be the first to limit our hand by bidding 3♠, throwing the hot potato back to partner.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K J 9 5
♥ Q 9 6 5
♦ A K J
♣ K 3

Q: 3 - South's decision?

South	West	North	East
1 No-trump	pass	2♣	double*
2♥	pass	2 no-trump	pass
?

*The double of an artificial bid is generally for lead direction.

A: 4♠: Pard's 2 No-trumps bid was a red light. He's got a 4-card Spade suit (otherwise why would he have used Stayman?) and 8-9 pts. We are delighted to yank the contract into Spades, as a hand almost always plays better in a suit. Yes, we've got a Club stopper on the opening lead, but just the one. With our 17 pts, we're delighted to be in game. Hope we don't get a ticket for running the light.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ Q 3
♥ 3 2
♦ A 10 9 2
♣ A 10 5 4 2

Q: 4 - As South, what next?

South	West	North	East
pass	1♥	1♠	2♣
pass	2♥	2♠	3♥
?

A: 4♠: Sadly, we have been "Stopped on Red" until now. We've got a very good hand, but been unable to bid. We know now that Pard not only has a 6-card suit, but a hand good enough to bid even though we had passed twice. We've got a lot to offer including an honor doubleton in trumps. The light just turned green.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A K Q
♥ 5
♦ K Q 10 9 8
♣ A K 4 2

Q: 5 - With no one Vul, what should South bid?

South	West	North	East
1♦	pass	1♠	pass
3♣*	pass	3♠	pass
4 No-trumps **	pass	5♦
?

*jump shift, forcing, shows large invitational or bigger hand
**straight Blackwood

A: 6♠: With a hand shaped like this, with first and/or second-round control of every suit, we don't really care which ace partner has. In for a penny...and besides, no contract is too high when partner has to play it!
We are now going to play this hand, but as defenders. Can we set this? Have they not "Stopped on Red?" Stay tuned...

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

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What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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