"Beer in Cans" by Marti Ronemus

We're still in holiday mode. Remember recently we talked about the perfect martini? Following that column, we received an email from a Faithful Reader who suggested we were a little snobbish, focusing on the sophisticated. Well, how about this then? This is for all our friends who are passionate about craft beers.

In 1935 the earth shifted in its orbit when the first beer in cans hit the market. Produced by Krueger Brewing Company, the product was a huge hit. Those of us of a certain age can remember being the popular one at the party because we had a "church key" (can opener for the uninitiated) in our purse. Moi? Certainly not!! But once those pop-top cans became common, the church key became obsolete.

This factoid is one of those little gems you just have to share, but I'm having a tough time finding a bridge tie-in. How about this?

When faced with a choice of bids, it's more important to be clear than to be sophisticated. Will that work?

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A K 8
♥ 9 2
♦ A J 10 5
♣ J 8 7 4

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♦	p	1♠	p
?

A: 2♠: We could bid 1 No-trump, but the Spade support is so very nice, and our hand is so minimum with no Heart stoppers, that it makes sense to sign off. If Pard wants to take it further, carpe dium.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♦	p	1♠	p
?

A: 1 No-trump: This time we can comfortably bid 1 No-trump with our Heart stoppers.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

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

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	p
1♠	p	3♠	p
?

A: 4♦: We certainly smell a slam, don't we? However, we've seen what a disaster using Blackwood can be a disaster when we have an unprotected suit. Without first- or second-round control of every suit in our hand, we are going to bid controls. When, after suit agreement, Pard hears our 4♦ bid, he'll know wussup. We need to hear a Heart control bid from him. Otherwise, be careful of the fizz.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♣	p	1♦	p
?

A: 2♣: This is one of those borderline hands. With long suit distribution, we can come up with 16-18 points, but they aren't all working points (vis a vis the Hearts). We're going to downgrade and make a minimum response.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A 10 4
♥ 9 7
♦ 9
♣ A K Q 10 8 3 2

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♣	p	1♦	p
?

A: 3♣: We have less points than the last hand but many more tricks. We are up-grading this hand. Bridge is a game of tricks, not points.

So, onward and upward to our hand. Semper fi! (That's Latin, isn't it?)

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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