"Nat'l Play Your Ukulele Day" by Marti Ronemus

A: Pass: It strikes a sour note, but here's the (musical) score. You've got a great hand for a Michael's cuebid of 2♠, BUT!! You are opposite a passed Pard, and would be pushing him to the three-level. What if he only has a doubleton in the red suits? What about bidding 2♥ on our own? The suit is a little ratty, and with a bad hand (surely you didn't give anything for that singleton ♣K) we like a better suit? What about 2♦? Interesting, and will give Pard a lead, but terrible habit to get into (bidding the LOWER of five-card suits?) So opposite a passed hand, vul and sure to be doubled, we are better off defending.

Your result so far:

A: 6♦: Our goal is to be annoying, and this should do it. Let's think it through. Pard has at most 1 Spade. He likely has six Diamonds. East is weak or he would have cuebid. It is VERY reasonable to expect Pard to hold the pointed aces and the ♣K for his two-level overcall. You could have bid 5♦, but that would annoy no one.

Your result so far:

A: 5♣: With Pard overcalling 1 No-trump, we know the Hearts are covered and that we have points for game. We're picturing Pard with some wasted Heart values, and if he only has a doubleton Club, there's a chance he could get locked out of dummy in No-trump. While we hate minor suit games, this time we have a permission slip from our mother.

Your result so far:

A: 4♠: Speaking of irritating sounds, West's 3♣ bid is right up there. Before tackling that, tho', let's talk about our 2♦ bid. Any bid of Spades we would make would be limiting bids and could be passed. We could jump immediately to 4♠, but that would preclude any chance at slam. Our 2♦ is forcing so no worry about not reaching game. AND!! This proves good things happen to people who do things good. Pard passes the 3♣ bid, showing a minimum opener and nothing else to say. Now, back to us. Our ♣K is a walking deadman, but how much credit can we give to West's bid? Sure he's got long clubs but Partner doesn't need much for us to strike 4♠: the only thing that would bother you is the ♦K in West, but that'd be really unlucky. Live in the fast lane...

Your result so far:

A: 6♦: Super. Annoying! We had nothing to say over 3♠ with our minimum opener, but boy have things changed! Our major suit openers guarantee no losers in the majors (Pard's bidding shows five-five at least in the minors), and with our Diamond fit and the ♣K, wow. Why Diamonds? Pard named them first.

Ready to be annoying with a hand? Go, team!

Your result so far: