Lesson 5 : Quiz ANSWERS

Quiz 5 - Lesson 5 - Links page



  1. What are Shortage Points and when are they allocated ?
    Shortage points reflect the ruffing potential of a hand played in a trump suit. They are only counted after a trumpfit has been discovered.
    Each doubleton = 1   Each singleton = 3   Each void = 5 shortage points  

  2. Can you count both Length and Shortage points in a hand at the same time ?
    No ! After a trumpfit is discovered substract any previously counted Length points and add the Shortage points in their place.

  3. What are the five most common opening bids ?
    The five most common opening bids are : 1NT - 1S - 1H - 1D - 1C.

  4. What type of bids are the opening bid of '1 in a suit' ?
    '1 in a suit' opening bids are open bids.

  5. What is the difference between and 'open bid' and a 'limit bid' ?
    Open bids have a wide points range. Limit bids have a narrow points range.

  6. In what order of priority do you select your opening bid ?
    1st = 1NT
    2nd = 1S or 1H
    3rd = 1D or 1C


  7. What is your opening bid with the following hands ?

    1. S - K Q 10 4 3     H - 9 4     C - A J 9     D - K 10 3
      1S : you have 15 points and a 5-card Spade suit.

    2. S - Q 7 3 2     H - A 10 9 6     C - A 9 7 5   D - A
      1C : you have 14½ points, no 5-card major and 4 Diamonds.

    3. S - A J 4 2     H - K Q J 7 6 4     C - A 3   D - 9 3
      1H : you have 16 points, but are semibalanced (no NT bid) with a 6-card Heart suit.

    4. S - K 4 2     H - Q J 7 6 4     C - A K 7   D - A 3
      1NT : you have 18 points and a balanced hand
      (Some players prefer to open 1H (1S) with a strong 5-card major suit and a useless doubleton.

    5. S - J 9 7     H - K 10 9 5 2     C - 9 5   D - A Q 3 2
      Pass : you have only 11½ points.

    6. S - A 8 3     H - 9 6     C - K Q 5 2   D - K Q 3 2
      1D : you have 14 points. With 4 Diamonds and 4 Clubs always open with 1D.

    7. S - K Q 8 4     H - A K Q 6     C - K J 5   D - Q 10
      1C : you have 20½ points (too many for 1NT) You have no 5-card major or 4 Diamonds.

    8. S - A K 8 3 2     H - A Q 10 9 6     C - A 5   D - 2
      1S : you have 19½ points. With two 5-card suits always bid the higher ranking one first.

    9. S - 9 8     H - A Q     C - K J 8 5 2   D - Q J 10 9
      1C : you have 14½ points and a 5-card Clubs. Always bid your longest suit (with 5 or more cards) first.

    10. S - 10 9 8 7 4     H - A K Q 2     C - A K 5   D - 7
      1S : you have 17½ points and 5 Spades. ("Prefer length over strength".)

    11. S - K 9 8     H - K Q 8 4 3     C - 8 2   D - Q 9 2
      Pass : you have only 11 points.

    12. S - K 9 8 3     H - K Q 8 4     C - A 2   D - Q 9 2
      1C : you have 14 points, no 5-card major and no 4 Diamonds.


  8. Your partner opened 1 Heart, indicating he has 5 cards in the Hearts suit.
    Reevaluate your hand from this perspective (counting shortage points where appropriate).
    You hold :

    1. S - Q J 10 4     H - 9 4 3     C - A J 9     D - K J 3
      12½ HCP + 0 SP = 12½ total

    2. S - A Q 7 3 2     H - A 10 9     C - J 9 7 5   D - 9
      11½ HCP + 3 SP = 14½ total

    3. S - A J 6 5 4 2     H - 7 6     C - K Q 3   D - A 3
      14 HCP + 2 LP = 16 total
      (There is as far as you know no trump fit, because 5 + 2 = 7 Hearts only.)

    4. S - Q 9 7     H - K 9 5 2     C - 9 5   D - A Q 3 2
      11 HCP + 1 SP = 12 total

    5. S -     H - Q J 6 3 2     C - K J 5 2   D - A K 3 2
      14 HCP + 5 SP = 19 total

    6. S - A J 9 5     H - 2     C - K 5   D - A Q J 10 3 2
      15½ HCP + 2 LP = 17½ total
      (no trump fit : 5 + 1 = 6 Hearts)

  9. What type of bid is a single raise made by the Responder ?
    A single raise made by the Responder is a limit bid (6 - 10 points)

  10. What type of bid is a jump raise made by the Responder ?
    A jump raise made by the Responder is a open bid (13+ points)

  11. What type of bid is a Game raise made by the Responder ?
    A Game raise made by the Responder is a limit bid (6 - 10 points)

  12. Your partner Opened 1 Heart ?
    What is your Response with the following hands ?

    1. S - Q 10 4 3     H - 9 7 4     C - A 9     D - Q 10 3 2
      2H : You have 10 points (including 1 shortage point in C) and 3-card trump support : single raise opener's suit.

    2. S - Q 10 4 3     H - A 9 4     C - A 9     D - K 10 3 2
      3H : You have 14 points (including 1 shortage point in C) and 3-card trump support : jump raise opener's suit.

    3. S - K Q J 4 3     H - 10 9 4     C - 9 5     D - Q 10 3 2
      2H : You have 10 points (including 1 shortage point in C) and 3-card trump support : prefer to raise opener's major suit rather than bidding your 5-card Spade suit.

    4. S - 3     H - A 10 9 4     C - 10 9 6     D - Q 10 9 3 2
      4H : You have 7½ High Card Points, unbalanced and 4-card trump support : Game raise opener's suit.

    5. S - A J 4 3     H - A 9 4     C - A 9     D - Q 10 3 2
      3H : You have 16½ points (including 1 shortage point in C) and 3-card trump support : jump raise opener's suit.

    6. S - A K 4 3     H - A 9 4     C - A K     D - Q 10 3 2
      3H : You have 21½ points (including 1 shortage point in C) and 3-card trump support : jump raise opener's suit.
      (After Opener's next bid prepare to bid at least 6 Hearts. Even with a minimum opening (13 - 15) Small Slam is a certainty.)

  13. You opened 1 Heart. Partner responded with 2 Hearts.
    What is your next bid with these hands ?

    1. S - 9 4     H - K Q 10 4 3     C - A J 9     D - K 10 3
      Pass : You have a minimum opening hand (15 points). Your partner has 10 points at the most. This is not enough (15 + 10 = 25 points) for a Game contract.

    2. S - 7 3 2     H - A Q 10 9 6     C - A 9 7 5   D - A
      3H : You have a strong opening hand (17½ points, including 3 shortage points in D). Invite to Game. Your partner has 6 - 10 points and should pass with 6-7, or bid 4H with 8-10 points.

    3. S - A K 4 2     H - K Q J 7 6 4     C - A 3 2   D - 8
      4H : You have a maximum opening hand (20 points). Your partner has 6 - 10 points. This is enough (20 + 6+ = 26+ points) for a Game contract.

    4. S - K 4 2     H - Q J 7 6 4     C - A K 7   D - 6 3
      Pass : You have a minimum opening hand (14 points). Your partner has 10 points at the most. This is not enough (14 + 10 = 24 points) for a Game contract.

    5. S - A K     H - K 10 9 8 5 2     C - 9 5   D - A Q 3 2
      3H : You have a strong opening hand (18½ points). Your partner has at the most 10 points. Invite to Game. Your partner has 6 - 10 points and should pass with 6-7, or bid 4H with 8-10 points.

    6. S - A 8     H - J 10 9 8 6     C - K Q 5   D - K 10 3
      Pass : you have a minimum opening hand (15 points). Your partner has 10 points at the most. This is not enough (16 + 10 = 25 points) for a Game contract.

  14. You opened 1 Heart. Your partner responded 3 Hearts.
    What is your next bid with these hands ?

    1. S - K Q 8 4 2     H - A K Q 6 4     C - A 5   D - 6
      6H : with 22 points yourself and at least 13 by partner (35pts total) Small Slam is a certainty.
      You can also bid 4NT (Blackwood Convention) asking for Partner's Aces and Kings, as Grand Slam may well be there.

    2. S - 8 3 2     H - A Q 10 9 6     C - A 5 4   D - K 2
      4H : you have a minimum Opening hand.

    3. S - A 9 8 4     H - A Q J 6 2     C - K 7   D - A 5
      6H : with 20+13 = 33 pts Small Slam is a certainty.

    4. S - J 9 8 7     H - J 9 8 6 2     C - K Q J   D - A
      4H : you have a minimum Opening hand.

    5. S - K 9 8     H - K Q 8 4 3     C - 5 2   D - K J 2
      4H : you have a minimum Opening hand.

    6. S - A Q 9 8     H - A K J 8 4     C - 2   D - 10 9 2
      5H : with 17½ points invite Responder to bid 6 with better than a minimum hand (13 pts).
      (Or ask for Partner's Aces : Blackwood)

  15. Partner opened 1 Spade. You responded with 3 Spade.
    What type of bid is Partner's next bid (4S, 5S or 6S) ?
    A final bid to Game or Slam (4S or 6S) or an invitation bid (5S).

  16. Good opening leads in a Trump contract are :
    1. If your partner made a bid in the auction : lead Partner's suit
    2. Top of a solid sequence
    3. King fro AK
    4. Singleton or Top of a Doubleton

  17. What strategy should you use for playing a trump contract ?
    Count your possible losers. Generally draw the opponents' trumps first, unless there is a special reason not to do so.

  18. What do you, as Declarer, in most cases do first ?
    Draw the opponents' trumps.

  19. In which cases do you not follow the usual procedure ?
    1. When you need Dummy's trumps to ruff a loser
    2. When you need Dummy's trumps as entry
    3. When the opponents have the trump Ace and you need to get rid of some losers before they gain the lead.

(Quiz 5 - Lesson 5 - Top - Links page)

Copyright © 2006 Michael Furstner (Jazclass). All rights reserved.