Blum on Bridge A Little Quiz
	"The Bridge Player's Dictionary," edited by Randall Baron, is composed of bridge terms you may or may not know. Perhaps because you either feel unlucky or believe that the opponents are always your worst enemy, a number of these terms refer to bad luck or violence. I thought a little quiz might be in order to see how well-versed you are with some of these terms. The answers will appear at the end of the column. If you think this is easy, believe me it ain't. *** * 1. What's "The curse of Scotland"? (a.) The spade 3 (b.) The heart jack (c) the diamond 9 (d) The club 7. * 2. What's "The Devil's bedpost"? (a.) The club 4 (b.) The diamond 2 (c.) The heart 8 (d.) the spade king. * 3. What's "A flogger"? (a.) A very disappointed partner who wishes to withdraw. (b.) A mixed pair that is playing for the first time. (c.) The head tournament director. (d.) Sheet recording the results of previous rubbers. * 4. What's a "hit"? (a.) Finesse (b.) Double (c.) Go down (d.) Bid Blackwood * 5. What's the "Kiss of Death"? (a.) Bidding no-trump with a singleton. (b.) Preempt at unfavorable vulnerability. (c.) Pass a double with a void. (d.) a penalty of 200 points. * 6. What's a "monster"? (a.) The No. 1 seeded pair in a section. (b.) An unfriendly director. (c.) A very powerful hand. (d.) A Polish Forcing Club System. * 7. How about "Out on a Limb"? (a.) a dangerous action. (b.) French convention over 1NT opening. (c.) 12-14 point 1 NT opening. (d.) Playing in the Mixed Pairs with your girlfriend or boyfriend. * 8. What's the meaning of "overboard"? (a.) The last hand in the session. (b.) Go too high in the bidding. (c.) An Australian team competition. (d.) Where the traveling score is placed in the board. * 9. What's the meaning of "punch"? (a.) to force a player to shorten his trumps by ruffing. (b.) to knock a board off the table. (c.) To take a commanding lead in a match. (d.) A Mexican two-suited overcall. * 10. What's a "shark"? (a.) an experienced tournament director. (b.) A Norwegian weak no-trump opening. (c.) An expert who often plays tough bridge for high stakes. (d.) Slang for a teacher in the Caribbean. * 11. How about the word "sock"? (a.) withdraw (b.) preempt (c.) pass (d.) double. * 12. What does "trap" mean? (a.) To teach novices (b.) To pass holding a strong hand. (c.) To lead an honor (d.) A Hungarian convention over 1NT. *** Several years ago David Siebert, playing with his brother in a National Open Pairs, had a real rarity. In a contract of 3NT he held the J10964 of spades opposite the A5, played four rounds of spades and lost no tricks in the suit. Impossible, you say. Let's see. Take a look at the hands. David played North. East led the club 6 to West's Jack and Siebert ducked. He won the club continuation in dummy and played the spade Jack. West ducked and the Jack held. Another spade went to West's queen and Siebert's ace. Siebert then cashed the three diamond honors in his hand and the club king, pitching a spade from dummy. When Siebert led a diamond to dummy's queen, West could see the end play coming (he was going to be thrown in with a spade to lead up to dummy's heart king), so he jettisoned his spade king. Siebert had to give West two hearts in the end by leading away from his the king in dummy, but he had taken four diamonds, four spades and two clubs for plus 430 and 73.5 out of 81 matchpoints. *** Answers to the quiz: 1. (c.) diamond nine. 2. (a.) club four. 3. (d.) A sheet recording the results of previous rubbers. 4. Double. 5. (d.) A penalty of 200 points in duplicate. 6. (c.) A very powerful hand. 7. (a.) a dangerous action. 8. (b.) to be too high in the bidding. 9. (a.) To force a player to shorten his trumps by ruffing. 10. (c.) An expert who often plays tough bridge for high stakes. 11. (d.) Double. 12. (b.) To pass holding a strong hand.