Charles Goren's Year-end Quiz

15

5 HEARTS—5 POINTS
DOUBLE—3 POINTS
4 SPADES—1 POINT

This hand is worth 25 points in support of any suit partner can bid. Because as little as a king or a long suit in his hand will probably produce a slam, a mere double on your part would be placing too much pressure on him. You must take matters in your own hands and force him to speak, even at the six-level.

16

3 DIAMONDS—5 POINTS
DOUBLE—2 POINTS

Something, you can be sure, is rotten here. There is scarcely enough outstanding strength to piece together an opposing opening bid, and to combine that with a jump shift suggests sheer fantasy. Surely you will not wish to retire at less than the five-level in one of your major suits and in order to be sure that the bidding does not suddenly subside, a game-forcing cue bid of three diamonds is recommended.

17

PASS—5 POINTS
2 SPADES—2 POINTS

You have an exactly average hand in high cards (10 points) which will normally not produce game opposite a partner who was only able to overcall. It would be extremely bad tactics to try two no trump merely because you have hearts stopped and a smattering of high cards.

18