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 "You're NOT Crazy!" Opening Bids by Marti Ronemus

Not long ago, I got an email from a Faithful Reader, begging me to make his Pard stop snapping her cards, as it was driving him slowly insane. "Maybe she'll listen to you," he pleaded. (Note: NOBODY listens to me, not even my dogs.) I told him I'd help him out as soon as his check cleared.

BUT!! This got me thinking, and then at the doc's office I serendipitously found an old copy of "Current Biology," with an article entitled "Recognizing Misophonia." (C'mon, admit it. You wouldn't be able to resist reading that, either.)

It seems there is a neurological reason why some people are crazed by tapping feet, rapping pencils, popping chewing gum and other sharp, repetitive sounds. Brain scans show these poor pathetic people have more myelin (insulation) protecting the prefrontal cortex. Who knew? So show mercy, and stop snapping those cards. You're making these poor people nuts.

And speaking of things that drive us nuts... today we're going to explore opening bids. Should we? Shouldn't we?

Question 1

  Your Hand
 A Q J 9 8
 Q 2
 J 4 3
 K 4 2
 
Q: 1 - South?:
SouthWestNorthEast
?--


 Your choice:
A: 1: An easy one as a warm-up. Typical minimum opener, with God's own suit to open.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 K 2
 A 10 2
 K 4 3 2
 K Q J 2
 
Q: 2 - South?:
SouthWestNorthEast
?--


 Your choice:
A: 1 No-trump: We have 16 pts, no five-card major, no more than one doubleton, perfect. So easy.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 K 2
 A Q J 10 2
 4 3
 K Q 9 8
 
Q: 3 - South?:
SouthWestNorthEast
?--


 Your choice:
A: 1: We have the points to open 1 No-trump, but so many reasons to resist. We have a five-card major. (Down the road, we'll reconsider this qualifier.) We have nine cards in two suits. We have two doubletons. All reasons to open a suit. After we hear Pard's response, we'll either upgrade or downgrade the hand, but for now, we open 1.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 9 2
 A 10 2
 K 4 3 2
 A K Q J
 
Q: 4 - South?:
SouthWestNorthEast
?--


 Your choice:
A: 1 No-trump: Back in the Dark Ages of bridge, we were told (by granny) not to open 1 No-trump without a stopper in every suit. SO passe!! Now holding a worthless doubleton is no hindrance and shouldn't make anyone crazy.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 9 2
 A Q 9
 5 4 3 2
 K Q J 2
 
Q: 5 - South?:
SouthWestNorthEast
?--


 Your choice:
A: 1: Once we've eliminated opening a major or No-trump, we look to our minors. With 4-4, we open 1. I know, I know. Such a difference between the suits, but we are bidding our point count ... and our shape, NOT where our points are.

Our questions were sort of easy today, so we're going to make our hand a little harder. 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.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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