Responding to 2C "All About Hairballs" by Marti Ronemus

Just when we think we've heard it all, we hear a real stunner. There is actually a symposium on -- cat hairballs! Yup. Cat owners and other interested people (really?!) gather yearly at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring MD to learn about hairballs.

Those of us who own cats already know about hairballs. To my way of thinking, hairballs are the only negative about these wonderful, loving, schizophrenic animals. Cats practically take care of themselves, never need to be walked on a snowy day, adore you on THEIR terms. An occasional hairball is a very small price to pay for so much joy.

Unless you step on it in your bare feet in the middle of the night.

And now let's talk about our bridge hairballs... bad responses to 2♣ openers. I've gotten several questions from Faithful Readers about this recently. Thank you for your questions, and keep 'em comin'.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 4 3
♥ K 10 9
♦ K 7 6
♣ J 8 7 5 4

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	2♣	p
2♦	p	2♥	p
?

A: 3♥: 4♥ would be a shutout. We've got a Pard with 8-1/2 tricks in his hand. We are bringing some very nice cards to the table, especially in trumps. We want to be encouraging. It seems counter-intuitive to many new players, but the lower bid is encouraging because it leaves more room to wiggle around till we find the perfect contract.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	2♣	p
2♦	p	2♥	p
?

A: 4♥: Unlike last hand, this one is a real hairball. We do have trump support, and we tell Pard we don't have anything except a little support.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

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

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	2♣	p
?

A: 2♠: When Pard opens 2♣, he is the star of the show, and we should stand back and let him show his hand. UNLESS!! We have 8-plus pts hand AND AND a solid gold suit of our own. This is what it looks like. BTW, the 8 pts is flexible, and usually a sort-of marker for slam interest. Pard will still be showing us his suit, but he will know we've got a rock of a suit and slam interest.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	2♣	p
2♦	p	2♠	p
?

A: 3♣: We are bidding our cheapest minor, a "double negative," showing neither Spade interest or points. We are warning Pard is is on his own, and he should be very careful where he's putting his feet... hairballs ahead.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A 8 7 6 5
♥ 4 3 2
♦ Q 9 8
♣ 4 3

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	2♣	p
2♦	p	2♥	p
?

A: 2♠: This is a forward-going bid, somewhat encouraging. Pard will know that we don't have a solid gold suit of our own, or we would have bid it on our first chance. He will bid again and then we can show our Heart support, making it his problem. Good kitty.

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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