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 Fancy Rat and Mouse Week by Marti Ronemus

After seeing the movie "Ratatouille" I found that my attitude toward rats had slightly softened, so it was with some surprise and delight I saw this observance on our calendar.

Were you aware that there are clubs and indeed a national organization (afrma.com) dedicated to the promotion of the breeding and showing of fancy rats and mice? You will be happy to know (as was I) that personality and disposition are as important in the judging as coat, lie of the ears, tail length and eye color.

When I went to the website, I must admit I found some of them to be downright winsome, more in the mouse category than the rats (especially the Frizzie Mouse with a curly coat and the most adorable curly whiskers).

I struggled to find a bridge tie-in, but how about this? Don't be in such a hurry to call Pest Control. You might be able to do something with that mouse.

Question 1

  Your Hand
 A J 8
 K Q 10
 K J 6
 J 10 5 4
 
Q: 1 - South?
SouthWestNorthEast
-2DblPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3 No-trump: Your Pard promised an opening-ish hand. We've got their suit well-stopped with game going values. Bid what you know you've got.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 A K 6
 2
 J 8 4
 A K 10 9 8 3
 
Q: 2 - This is a very competitive show. What should we do? South
SouthWestNorthEast
-1Pass1 No-trump
22PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3: Opposite a Pard who passed twice, we hesitate briefly. We've got a wonderful suit chock full of intermediates plus our handsome Spades. Let's trot this big rat out one more time.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 8 2
 K Q 9 5 2
 A J 10 4
 A K
 
Q: 3 - Do we have a winner here? South:
SouthWestNorthEast
---Pass
1Pass2Dbl
?


 Your choice:
A: 4: We have a very shiny smart rat here, well worth a game-going bid. We love the lead coming into this hand, we love the A-J-10 (worth two tricks on a normal day). We don't want to be shy. We've got a winner.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 K
 A J 7 4 3
 A 9 8 2
 K J 5
 
Q: 4 - Who's the winner here?
SouthWestNorthEast
--PassPass
1Pass1Pass
2Pass3Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3 No-trump: If Pard had a Club stopper, he would have bid No-trump himself, rather than raising those ratty Diamonds. He showed his 10-12 HCP also. We have our fingers crossed about our K. It should have some use now.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 A 6 5 3
 K Q J
 9 5 4
 A 8 4
 
Q: 5 - Last chance to show off our winning mouse. South:
SouthWestNorthEast
--14
Dbl**Pass5Pass
?

**This double is for penalty, with the understanding Pard will pull it with a good reason.

 Your choice:
A: 6: Pard pulled our double, figuring our vulnerable game score would be more than our "set" score. He must have the shiniest, prettiest mouse in the show. With our two Aces and three-card Diamond support, we just have to go for the Best in Show ribbon.

Let's play this hand and see if indeed it is Best in Show. We'll be switching hands with Pard.

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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