Our speech often gives away where we come from and/or live. But there are many other markers. Here's one I bet you didn't know. When you order egg rolls, the Duck Sauce that comes with it gives away where you are (just in case you were lost and wondering...)

On the East Coast, we get Duck Sauce that is orange, comes in packets and is made from a fruity apricot mixture. In New England, it is brown and chunky, and served in bowls on the table rather than packets. Contents? We're not sure. If we're on the West Coast, they won't know what the heck we're talking about. There's no such thing as Duck Sauce.

One final factoid... why is it called "duck sauce?" No ducks were killed, we're glad to hear. It comes from a soybean-based sauce served with Peking Duck.

Are there regional accents in bridge? You betcha. As we meet people from all over at our Boot Camps, and are often startled by the "creative" ways in which bids are used. "Everyone does it" is often the only reason given. And so be it. Let's look at some bids... from a more standard point of view.