Name That Convention

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www.larryco.com  bridgecruises_lessons@larryco.com

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I am known to be a non-fan of conventions. KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart). However, some of my readers just love conventions. Here is a quiz to test your knowledge

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1.

West North East South
1♦ Pass 1♠ 2♣
Dbl

CHOICES

Takeout Double Negative Double Support Double Responsive Double Other
ANSWER
Support Double. Opener’s Double on the second round shows 3-card support for responder (raising would guarantee 4-card support).
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2. With the hands and auction below, what convention do East-West seem to be employing?

West East
♠ Q 7 6 ♠ 5 2
♥K J 6 ♥A 4
♦A K 8 7 ♦6 5 3
♣ K 3 2 ♣ J 10 9 8 6 5
West North East South
1NT 2♠ 2NT Pass
3♣ Pass Pass Pass

CHOICES

Unusual NT Puppet Stayman Relay-Control steps lebensohl Other
ANSWER
lebensohl. Yes, with a lower-case “l.” This convention uses a 2NT bid by responder (after a 1NT opening is overcalled) to relay to 3♣ (either to play, or as the start of a different description).
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3. What convention is West using if his 5♦ bid asks East how many of these 4 cards he holds: ♠A, ♠K, ♥A, ♣A?

West North East South
1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass
5♦

CHOICES

Roman Keycard Blackwood Splinter Asks Relay-step asking Exclusion Keycard Blackwood Splinter Bids Other
ANSWER
Exclusion Keycard Blackwood
A jump above game (after a trump suit is agreed) is used to ask for Keycards excluding the suit jumped into. West might hold:
♠AQJ1076   ♥K2   ♦—   ♣KQJ62. 
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4.What convention is being used if West’s 2♣ says nothing about clubs, but promises a limit raise in support of hearts?

West North East South
Pass Pass 1♥ Pass
2♣

CHOICES

Stayman Bergen Raises Drury Gerber Other
ANSWER
Drury uses a passed-hand 2♣ response to a major-suit opening  to show 3+ card support and a limit raise.
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5.What kind of double is not illustrated in the auction below?

West North East South
1♦ Dbl 1♠ Dbl
Redbl

CHOICES

Takeout Negative Responsive Support Dbl & Redbl
ANSWER
Negative double. A Negative Double is made by the responder (East in this auction) after an overcall. There was no overcall and East didn’t double. North’s double was a Takeout Double. South presumably made a Responsive Double. West made a Support Redouble.