"Miracle Cure-Alls" Place the Contract by Marti Ronemus

In 1830, John B. McMunn introduced his elixir of "purely vegetable" ingredients that "no family should be without." It "cures coughs, colds, quiets fussy babies, tetanus, rabies." It was also a brain tonic, and cure for hay fever, headaches and male impotency. It was so useful as an aid to endurance that Ernest Shackleton took it on his Antarctic expeditions. What was it? Pure opium. In reality, people weren't cured, but they were so stoned they just didn't care.

Are there any cure-alls in bridge? Yes. What is it? Thoughtful consideration.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ Q 6 5
♥ Q
♦ A 9 8 7 6 5 4
♣ 10 6

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1 No-trump	Pass
?

A: 3 No-trump: If your "cure" was 2 No-trump, give yourself some credit. We like this hand, though, with its long long suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K 9 8
♥ K 5 3
♦ K 9
♣ A K Q 10 7

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	3♠	Pass	Pass
?

A: 3 No-trump: The opening lead will give us one trick, and with any kind of luck at all, we should get five tricks from the Clubs. We know West is weak, and aren't expecting much from East. Pard is marked with something, don't you think? Or is it just our Elixir talking?

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 10 8 2
♥ A 4
♦ K 3 2
♣ 3 2

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
?

A: 4♠: We only have 16 HCP, but we like this hand. We have the advantage of the opening lead coming into our hand, and we've got super distribution.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
?

A: Pass: We've got an extra trump, true enough. BUT!! Two non-drugged minimum hands should never (well, almost) be above 2♠ in a non-competitive auction. Let it go. If the opponents get in the act, we can bid again with our ninth trump, but not now.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
?

A: 4♠: This time, we've got an opening hand opposite our Pard's opener. Plus the extra trump. We also have the advantage of the opening lead coming into all our Kings. We don't need a pipe dream to make this reality. Bid game.

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

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