"Cardboard Boat Races" by Marti Ronemus

If you hurry, you can still make it to the World Championship Cardboard Boat Races held tomorrow in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Are you picturing little tiny boats, daintily floating down the stream? No! These are monsters, holding as many as 10 oarsmen (oarspeople?). The rules are simple: No materials other than corrugated cardboard, waterproofing and tape (imagine the leap in Duck Tape sales!), and oars only as propellant.

Not only are there prizes for crossing the finish line first, but for best design, best team spirit, and the most waited-for, the Titanic Award for the most spectacular sinking.

And to prevent our bridge boats from sinking, let's polish up our bidding a little.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 10 8 5 4
♥ 10 4 3 2
♦ A 2
♣ J 9 2

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	p
1♥	p	2 No-trump	p
?

A: Pass: While most would agree that our initial 1♥ bid is floating nicely on two tens and an Ace, we think raising to 3 No-trump would make us a serious contender for the Titanic Award. Pard has at most 19 pts, and we stretch to reach 5. If you chose 3 No-trump, you will either win the "reckless and foolhardy" award, or the "aggressive and lucky."

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K 10 2
♥ K Q 8
♦ 10 8 7
♣ Q 10 6 3

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	P	1♣	p
1 No-trump	2♣**	p	2♠
?

**Michaels for the majors

A: 2 No-trump: Some might have bid 2 No-trump at our first opportunity, but with the honors scattered all over the water and no shape to enhance the points, we chose 1 No-trump as the most descriptive. BUT!! We have another chance to show not only that we are at the top of our initial bid, but have stoppers in the majors. We're wearing our life preserver, so it's safe.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 10 8
♥ 7 4
♦ K J 8 3
♣ A K Q 10 5

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	2♦
?

A: 3♣: We have a wonderful hand opposite an opener, but we're not sure where we'll end up. While we'd like to have a six-card suit to enter the bidding at the three-level, we need to show this suit and hand. Some might double with this hand, but that would be promising Spades and we ain't got 'em.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 10 8 7 5
♥ A Q 9 8 6 5
♦ 7
♣ Q 5

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	1♠
2♥**	2♠	3♥	3♠
?

**A bit of a stretch, but the wind is at our back

A: 4♥: We did stretch a bit to bid 2♥, but our hand jumps geometrically when Pard supports Hearts. Not only do we have at least nine trump, but our singleton and doubleton now have significant value. We'll just have to row a little faster.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A Q 4
♥ Q 10 6
♦ 6 5 3 2
♣ K Q 4

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♦	1♥	p
?

A: 2♦: We're not too sure how sound Pard's overcall is. By cuebidding the opponent's suit, we're saying, "We've got a fit with you and at least 10 pts. Where are you on the overcall scale?"

And we're going to play this hand to see if we make it to the shore first.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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