"Put Down That Shotgun!" by Marti Ronemus

What a day! You've spotted Bigfoot and are hot to capture him. Can you shoot? No. In most states (Texas being a notable exception), you can't shoot any creature that's not on the list of huntable (new word) animals. We suspect this is less for Bigfoot's protection than for the safety of particularly hirsute people. A few states, particularly the Pacific Northwest, specifically name Bigfoot as protected.

If you're determined to capture the big guy, it is recommended that you use a trap. Be sure it's big enough for him to lie down, stand up and turn around. It's only humane.

So, before we head out to the woods, let's polish up our bidding skills. We want to take down the opponents, but not with bullets.

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - South:

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

A: 6 No-trump: This is a simple, warm-up question. All we need to do is Do the Math. Pard cannot have more than 17 and we have 18 and no shape. We can't have a grand slam, but we must have slam. Just bid it.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 5 4 3
♥ Q J 8
♦ A Q 6 2
♣ A K 7

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	2♥	Pass
?

A: 4♥: Bridge is a game of tricks, not points. When Pard preempts, we figure them for 5-1/2 tricks. We know we've got six Heart tricks. Add to that our two Club tricks and 1-1/2 tricks in Diamonds, that's 9-1/2 tricks for sure. Pard is likely to have the other half trick.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A 10 8 5 3
♥ 10 9 8 7
♦ 3 2
♣ K Q

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♠	2♦	3♣	3♦
Pass	Pass	4♣	Pass
?

A: 5♣: We see Big Foot! Pard is showing a strongly-invitational hand with an essentially self-sufficient suit, and we're sitting here with his ♣K-Q and an outside Ace. In addition, playing 4♣ is such a waste of time. Better to go for the big time. And remember, no contract is too high if your Pard has to play it.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
?	-	-

A: 1♠: We can debate this all day. We've got 12 HCP and a stunning suit, but a fist-full of side suit losers. Some would open this 4♠, and we have no quarrel with that, but in first seat, we'd like to start with 1♠. If Pard so much as squeaks, we can go to game.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
?	-	-

A: 4♠: This hand is too lousy to open 1♠, so of course we'll open it 4♠. We don't see any further future in this hand, unlike the last one.

And now, off to the woods we go to win a contract.

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.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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