Advancing Takeout Doubles" The Doorway Effect" by Marti Ronemus

Today's gem will help you understand that you're NOT crazy, you have lots of company. You walk from the living room to the kitchen to get your car keys. And you stand in the kitchen, having forgotten why you entered the room in the first place.

Would it surprise you to know that scientists have actually studied this phenomenon? Yup. It's comforting to know this is so common it needed to be studied. It's not a question of how long it took you to get to the kitchen, or the distance traveled. There's something about crossing the portal ... the brain perceives it as a cut-off point, and drops the thought that propelled you there in the first place, wiping it out of short-term memory.

I think the bridge equivalent is when you cross to dummy... and forget why you wanted to be there. Admit it. It's happened to you. And now you know and can tell your bridge friends you are suffering from the Doorway Effect.

So focus! Let's bid some hands.

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♥	Dbl	p
?

A: 1♠: This is every player's nightmare. The one thing you may NOT do is pass. You know Pard has usually four Spades (Takeout Double says, shortness in their suit, often four of any unbid major, tolerance for any suit you bid, and opening-ish points). Your bid promises nothing, 0-7ish points and a preference for Spades. Pard won't be expecting anything and he won't be disappointed.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♥	Dbl	2♥
?

A: Pass: This time your RHO (right hand opponent) got you off the hook. Your Pass tells Pard you don't have 6-plus points. Whew.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 5 4 3
♥ 6 5
♦ K 9 8 7 6
♣ 9 3

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♥	Dbl	p
?

A: 1♠: This time, we can actually bid with some pride (well, not too much). We have two choices, Diamonds or Spades. We know Pard has Spades, so let's just make the cheapest bid we can.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ K Q 9 8
♥ 8 7
♦ K J 9 2
♣ 6 5 4

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♥	Dbl	p
?

A: 2♠: We want to tell Pard two things: We like Spades and we are more than minimum. We can't bid the same thing with 8-ish to 11-ish points as we bid with zero, and our jump says just that.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 8 4
♥ 7 3
♦ K 8 5
♣ 4 3 2

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♥	Double	p
?

A: 4♠: We are opposite a Pard who has an opening-ish hand with at least three Spades. We've got game-going values, and a known nine card fit. We know where we belong. Just bid it.

And now it's time to cross into the kitchen. Try to remember what we've learned here.

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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