Goren Bridge
QUESTION 1: Neither as South, you hold:
962 A8 Q J 10 7 4 2 Q7 Partner opens one club and righthand opponent overcalls one heart. What call would you make?
A: Other approaches are possible, but we would bid exactly as if partner had opened 1H. Bid 1NT and decide later whether to bid diamonds.
Q: North-South vulnerable, South, you hold:
107 J6 A Q 10
1NT Dbl 2♦ *? *Transfer to hearts
What call would you make?
A: Double, showing length and strength in the artificial suit bid on our right, planning to bid 3C next. Q: East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:
A10 3
1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 3♣ Pass What call would you make?
A: Partner should have 10-11 points with four-card support for clubs. Game is possible, and you should make the straightforward invitational bid of 4C.
Q: Both vulnerable, hold:
K8 AK52 K9874 K4 Right-hand opponent opens one club. What call would you make? A: It is usually wrong to bid one no-trump when short in the opponent’s suit. Here, the options are too awkward and we would bid one no-trump anyway.
Q: North-South vulnerable, South, you hold:
74 A Q J 10 9
K1♥ Dbl Pass 1♠ What call would you make?
A: At this point, we wish we had opened 4H. It’s probably too late but bid 4H now and hope it’s enough to shut them out.
Q: East-West vulnerable, as you hold:
AKQ53 KJ6 J AKJ3 As dealer, what call would you make?
A: Many will be tempted to open 2C, but that call should almost always be either a very strong balanced hand or a massive one-suited hand. Open 1S.
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Dear Amy: I recently found out that my husband has been secretly smoking during our entire 16-year marriage. I felt such a betrayal of trust. He is now taking medication to quit.
I decided to forgive him to make our marriage work.
Soon after, I found out that he made flirting comments to a friend on Facebook. I thought we were trying to work on our marriage! This was hurtful, and it betrayed my trust again.
He has continued to lie about things if he feels it will prevent an argument.
I have told him I need complete honesty to start the healing process of forgiveness, and restore lost trust.
I have been so depressed that I decided to go into an anonymous online chat room to vent.
Well, it didn’t turn out like I thought it would. I ended up having a sexual conversation with a stranger.
Amy, I feel so guilty. I never intended for that to happen. After me being so upset at my husband for his lies and secrets, I am torn as to whether I should tell him. — Torn
Dear Torn: In short: If your spouse doesn’t know about it, it won’t impact your marriage.
Not disclosing this is a great way to avoid an argument.
Admitting it would cause pain to him and to you, including the possibility that he will never let you forget it.
I’d say you’ve boxed yourself into a corner, and now you should come clean.
Your husband should not have to be the standard-bearer for past, current and future mistakes.
Admit your behavior, take responsibility for it and for the possibility that he will be hurt by it, assure him that this will never happen again and ask for forgiveness.
If you two are stuck in a cycle of blame, recrimination and further acting-out, you should see a marriage counselor.
Dear Dr. Roach: I have been taking a multivitamin for years, and now my physician wants me to take a vitamin with NO vitamin D or calcium. He removed kidney stones in two separate procedures. I can’t find any vitamins like that. — D.A.S.
I completely agree that people with kidney stones should avoid calcium supplements. The transiently high levels of calcium after taking one cause the kidney to excrete a lot of that calcium, and that can cause a calcium crystal to grow, eventually forming a stone. Calcium that comes from the diet, on the other hand, does not induce such a spike in blood levels. High dietary calcium reduces the risk of stones.
The effect of vitamin D is not as clear. It seems that having low vitamin D is a risk for forming stones, so many experts will treat low vitamin D levels in people with kidney stones. I don’t know your exact situation. It may be that your vitamin D level is normal or high, and you just don’t need supplementation.
The most recent studies have consistently shown that most of the vitamins in a multivitamin tablet (with the exception of vitamin D) do not improve health or prevent illness, so I don’t recommend multivitamins anymore. I would encourage a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Save your money on the vitamin tablets.
Dear Dr. Roach: I saw your recent column on enlarged prostate, and I have the same problem. I have no history of cancer, but I do have a high PSA and symptoms of frequent urination. Because of other medications, I cannot take ibuprofen, so I am curious if Tylenol has the same anti-inflammatory effect. — J.B.
How Tylenol reduces pain remains a mystery. However, it is not an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen, so would not have the benefit that some men get from taking an ibuprofen at bedtime.