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 "Safety Pin Day" by Marti Ronemus

One day in 1849, a man named Walter Hunt needed $15 to pay a pressing debt to a friend. SO! He picked up a piece of brass wire and invented the Safety Pin. Folks, you heard it here first. Such a little thing and so useful to help in an emergency.

And here's our bridge tie-in (were you wondering?): When you find yourself in the balancing seat, it's a wee emergency, wouldn't you say? I understand that "across the pond," the British call it the PROTECTION SEAT rather than the balancing seat. In a way, you are indeed protecting your partner's points.

The main concept to remember is that in the balancing seat, we mentally take three points from Pard's hand and add to our own. We base our bid on holding a King more than we actually have. Pard hopefully will remember that if he's going to advance the bid.

Usually, we do random hands, but in honor of Safety Pin Day, all our quiz questions will involve the "protection and safety" of the Balancing Seat. Ready?

Question 1

  Your Hand
 9 7 6 5 3
 7 6
 A Q 7 6
 K 4
 
Q: 1 - South:
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 2: We would rather drink bleach than let the opponents play in a fit at the two-level. We'd never overcall a suit that lousy, BUT!! They have shown about half the points which means Pard rates to have some too. We'll either buy the contract or maybe push them higher than they want to be. Pard knows we didn't make a direct overcall and won't be expecting much. Good thing, too.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 7 6
 Q 6 5 4
 K J 7 6
 A 7 4
 
Q: 2 - South:
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: Double: With 10 HCP plus a dummy point, this isn't the worst bid we can make. If we were at favorable vulnerability, we might have considered making a double in the direct seat. But safety first!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 Q 9
 K J 9
 J 9 7 6
 Q 10 8 4
 
Q: 3 - South?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: Pass: We members of the Clint Eastwood School of Bidding HATE to pass. BUT!! This is a day we celebrate safety. We have the wrong shape for a double and no decent suit of our own. If Pard had shortness in Hearts, he probably would have taken action. Think what fun it will be to defend with this hand. Hm...

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 K J 5 4
 A 8 2
 J 9 8
 Q 8 5
 
Q: 4 - South again:
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
PassPassDblPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 2: Even allowing that Pard took 3 pts from our hand to make his double, we've got enough for a positive response. If we only bid 1, Those Rascals will still be in contention. Let's end it now. We've got our eight-card trump fit, and half the points in the deck.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 7
 8 3
 Q 10 8 7 5
 A Q 7 6 4
 
Q: 5 - One last chance to provide protection. South?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 2 No-trump: We're a passed hand, for heaven's sake. We can't possibly have no-trump points, so this cannot be anything except the Unusual No-trump, showing five-five (or better) in the two lowest unbid suits. Why didn't we do it in the direct seat? Many would, but we took a flying glimpse at the vulnerability and the quality of our suits, and decided, "safety first."

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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