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 "Quinoa Festival Day" by Marti Ronemus

Alright, alright. I admit it. I didn't even know what quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah in case like me you are clueless) was until about a year ago. Now we see it everywhere, and it's touted as a super-food. While I'm sure it would be a healthy addition to my diet, I haven't been able to elevate it beyond "wallpaper paste" in flavor. Sort of like grits, but put enough butter and brown sugar on grits...or a scoop of ice cream like we did with our oatmeal... maybe that would work with quinoa? Perhaps that would defeat the health benefits?

Food fads keep popping up (kale? Really?), sort of like bridge conventions. And each one needs to be analyzed whether the bid you give up to make room for the convention is worth the benefit. But you already know that. If however you know a way to make quinoa delicious as well as healthy, would you let me know?

Meantime, here are five questions and a hand that put a premium on thoughtful, healthy bridge. Have fun!

Question 1

  Your Hand
 A K J 4 2
 Q 5 3
 J 8
 A J 6
 
Q: 1 - Choices abound as South:
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass2Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 4: Pard's 2 bid promises 10-plus pts and five Hearts. We could bid 3, but we would bid that with 12 pts. Our jump to game shows we have extra. Be sure to talk this over with Pard. We BTW don't want to rebid the Spade suit. That would promise six.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 K 8 7
 Q 10 9 2
 Q J 6 4 3
 A
 
Q: 2 - As South?
SouthWestNorthEast
--11
2Pass3Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3 No-trump: We like that Pard supported our Diamonds, and while it might be a tiny bit daring, we paid to play and we've got Their suit stopped a few times. We could pass, but other members of the Clint Eastwood School of Bidding would scorn us.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 K Q 9 6
 K J 9 5
 A K
 6 5 3
 
Q: 3 - South again:
SouthWestNorthEast
--1Pass
1Pass2 No-trumpPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 6 No-trump: When Pard opens the bidding, we know our 16 pts will be game-going. Then, gulp, when North jumps to 2 No-trump showing 18-19 pts, we need all our fingers and toes on the job. The most we have is 36 HCP. We each have a balanced hand, so a grand slam isn't likely. There's no point asking for aces as it gives the opponents information that WE don't need. Just go directly to slam. No contract is too high when Pard has to play it!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 A K 9
 K 9 8 4
 4
 Q J 9 5 2
 
Q: 4 - South?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass1Pass
1 No-trumpPass2Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3: This is an example of how dramatically our hand can change in value. When Pard bids Hearts, he is showing a 5-4 hand. Our hand, which was just a minimum opener, jumps in value to 16 pts. Wow. If we were still a minimum, we'd just pass the Hearts, taking a preference. BUT!! Not now! We need to show our extras and throw it back at Pard to decide. With a Diamond stopper, he may put it in No-trump, or game in Hearts. Not our problem!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 A 7
 K 10 5
 A 8 6 4
 Q 8 5 3
 
Q: 5 - A last chance to "eat health" as South:
SouthWestNorthEast
--1Pass
2Pass2 No-trumpPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 4: We knew when Pard opened that we were going to be in a Heart game. The question is, do we have more. Our 2 bid gives Pard lots of room to completely define his hand. When we see his 2 No-trump bid, we know slam isn't a possibility, so we place the contract.

And now it's time to play a hand. We're warmed up and ready.

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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