National "Cook for your Pets" Day by Marti Ronemus

National "Cook for Your Pets" Day? Really? I don't even cook for my husband, let alone my pets. Who ARE these people! Why are they doing that?! Do their pets appreciate it? Mine get dry dog food and do back flips when the bowls are presented. Am I a bad mother for not giving them hot breakfasts?

Our goal in bridge should be to keep it simple. I've noticed that the more conventions people attach to the game, the higher their chances for tripping over their own feet. So today, let's see what we can do without getting out the pots and pans.

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♥	Dbl	3♣	3♦
?

A: 5♣: This is a tough question to begin our day. We can't play this in No-trump, but we can't just sit here either. Pard is willing to bid 3♣ freely, and with our super support and singleton behind the Diamond bidder, we may as well give this a shot.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	1♠
?

A: Double: There are some who would jump directly to 3 No-trump, with the lovely Spade stoppers and game-going values. BUT!! As we've said many times, don't make a bad bid if there's a good one available. A Negative Double is perfect here, showing four Hearts and strong tolerance for the fourth suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 10 5 4
♥ Q J 10 8 7 2
♦ 7
♣ A 8 5

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♠	Pass
?

A: 2♠: Another cold breakfast. Some would bid 3♠, adding lots of points for the singleton. Others would use those points to bid the Hearts. And some would try for a Weak Jump Shift to 3♥. We can knock that out immediately, as the hand is too good for a WJS. The Hearts are too shaky to bid at the two-level. And 3♠ is too fat a bid for the hand. Let's bid 2♠ and await further developments.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ K Q 10 9 4 3
♥ A J 4
♦ Q 5
♣ K 7

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	2♣	Pass
?

A: 3♠: We can discuss this one all day while the dogs' dinners get cold. Our Pard's 2♣ bid promises 10 plus points, and we've got game going values opposite that. We show a good 6-card hand, with 15 plus points. We are going to game, Pard will chose which one.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A Q J 10
♥ J 9 3 2
♦ 9 6
♣ A 9 4

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	Pass	Pass
?

A: 1♠: A strong case can be made for opening 1♣, BUT!! In third seat, the dogs are barking at the door for their dinner. Once you open the door, they are IN. Pard is a passed hand and not likely to go wild. In third seat, opening a good four-card major, especially Spades, is good strategy, as the opponents will have to enter the auction at the two-level.

And now, let's play a hand.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

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

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Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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