Alcohol and Nicotine - An Addictive Alliance

Anyone who has ever washed-out any time in bars before smoking bans were enforced knows that drinking and smoking go together like a pony and carriage, ham and eggs, peanut butter and jelly. The reason may not be as obvious.

The combining of the two addictions has to do with alcohol and nicotine's differing affects on our apprehensive system. Alcohol, perhaps the best anti-anxiety tablets ever discovered, is also a depressant. Nicotine, it turns out, is a really excellent antidepressant. Eureka! We can ease our anxieties with alcohol and offset the depression with nicotine! And that's just so what many drinkers do. Practiced users can meter their moods with pinpoint accuracy as they alternate sips and smokes throughout the day and evening.

Of course this stability comes with a considerable price tag. Liver and lungs are the obvious losers, but all organs, together with the brain, suffer from the alcohol bath and the initiation of numerous thousand smoke borne chemicals into bloodstream. But it's very hard to stop, as any smoker can tell you, and, what's more,the amalgamation is even deadlier in view of the fact that of alcohol's lulling effect.

"I know it's bad," we say to ourselves, "but I'll quit tomorrow."

Of course tomorrow by no means comes and even if we start to be seriously concerned, well, a link of drinks will take care of that.

"I have to quit!" many say. But the truth is, no, you don't. You can smoke and drink right up to the small you die. Many do.

So what's the point? It's that behaviors are interrelated, are trying to change, and that new behaviors need to have at smallest amount some of the obvious things of the ancient ones. In this case, relieving nervousness and depression.

It also earnings that if you both smoke and drink, you'll want to quit drinking first. Why? Because most public find it doable to smoke without drinking, but not to drink without smoking. One or two drinks will very near permanently dissipate any resistance to cigarettes. Besides, quitting smoking is infinitely harder than charitable up booze. If you disbelief that just question a few public who've done both.

Think about the way you use alcohol and cigarettes, the easing of nervousness and depression. There are additional ways to accomplish the same end. Exercise - corporal activity and depression cannot exist at the same time - books, duplicate bridge, travel, classes, and dozens of additional activities you've skipped in view of the fact that they interfered with you drinking. Time to dust off ancient aspirations.

No, the above examples don't place forward the same fingertip availability or immediate gratification. But they don't wring the same premature fatality and disease cost either - nor the same dollar cost for that matter. Besides, aren't your contemporary anxieties frequently centered around your drinking and smoking anyway?

So, quit the drinking. It's also excellent practice for kicking the cigarette habit. Much of the administer is the same. Replace ancient behaviors with new and more rewarding ones. If you deal with to knock off the alcohol crutch you'll also gain some confidence that change is doable - confidence that you'll need against the much tougher nicotine opponent.

Changing these habits isn't easy. But millions of thriving public demonstrate that it's possible. You may need some help but most of us do with any trying machinate whether it's remodeling our household or remaking our day after day lives. That's why there are doctors, trainers, counselors, architects, and so on. Don't let the obvious difficulties stop you. You'll feel and be much better soon. Very soon.

Dr. Edward Wilson has developed alternative alcohol recovery and moderation programs in Minnesota, Alaska, and California since 1987. He is the co-founder and clinical director of Your Empowering Solutions, Inc. a southern California based, non-12, step alcohol counseling center. Learn more about Dr. Wilson and Y.E.S. at:
http://www.non12step.com

Bridge Game Tips: Improve Your Bridge Game by Understanding the Suit Quality Test

The Suit Quality Test guide measures how passionate a suit you hold. The Suit Quality or SQ regularly decides whether the suit is passionate enough to bid at a agreed level. Useful just about whenever suit quality is a relevant criterion, it is useful for pre-empts, weak twos and overcalls. The SQ determines whether you can meet the deprivation of to insist on your suit as trumps.

Count the digit of honors in the long suit and then add the total digit of cards in the long suit. The resolution is the SQ of that suit. For example, Q-8-7-4-2 has 1 distinction and 5 cards. 1 + 5 = SQ of 6.

The SQ must equal or exceed the digit of tricks for which you are order for an overcall. With an SQ of 6, such a suit is not excellent enough for an overcall even at the one-level (seven tricks requires an SQ of 7). K-J-9-5-4 has an SQ of 7 (2 honors + 5 cards). That is excellent enough to overcall at the one-level (assuming you have enough extra strength) but not passionate enough for a two-level overcall.

Count the J or 10 as an distinction card for the SQ Test only if you also hold a higher distinction in the long suit.
J-8-5-4-3-2 has an SQ of 6. Do not count the jack if you have no higher honor.
K-J-8-4-3-2, however, has an SQ of 8. The jack is full regard as an distinction in view of the fact that the king is also present.

The Rule of 10 is a useful manufactured goods of the Suit Quality Test. You may insist on that suit as trumps if you have a suit with an SQ of 10,. For example, suppose you hold:
A 3
K Q J 10 6 4
8 7
Q 3 2
Partner opens 1D , you bid 1H and partner rebids 2D . What now?

The heart suit has an SQ of 10 (4 honors + 6 cards). Therefore, you must insist on hearts as trumps and jump to 4H . Even if partner is void in hearts, chances are you will lose only one trump trick.
Change the hand to:
A 3
K Q 8 6 4 3
8 7
Q J 10

Now, after 1D : 1H , 2D , you must bid only 3H . That is a passionate rebid and shows six hearts, but the suit wants support from partner. You would not fancy being in 4H contrary a void or low singleton.

2009
Ron Klinger is probably the world's leading bridge author and teacher with more than fifty books to his credit. He is also an Australian Grand Master and a World Bridge Federation International Master.
To keep up with the latest news about Ron, take a look at his blog
To improve your bridge game, sign up for Ron Klinger's free Bridge MiniCourse

Bridge Game Stories to Make You Laugh

'Would you care for a friendly game of cards?'
'No, let's play bridge.'

'Are you vacant to play in the Individual Championship?'
'No, of course not. Do you reckon I want twenty-seven uncommon partners mad at me?'

The late Keith McNeil was one of the best-known and best-liked characters on the Australian join scene. He bought international fame through his regularly hilarious, invariably witty Bidding Forum, a regular figure of Australian Bridge magazine. While he was the regular join columnist for the Adelaide Daily Mail he recited, tongue-in-cheek, his methods for production with players with whom he was not on the best of terms.

1. If you dislike someone, do not write up their excellent hands.
2. If you really dislike someone, write up their terrible hands.
3. If you dislike someone intensely, write up someone else's terrible hands but attribute them to the player you dislike.
4. If you absolutely and utterly dislike intensely someone, write up their excellent hands but attribute their fine play to their partner.

'When did you learn to play bridge? I know it was this daylight but what time this morning?'

Definition of a join expert : a player who is so well-informed about join that he can criticise his partner's game without exposing his own vast ignorance.

'How must I have played that hand?'
'Under an assumed name.'

'Why are you so glum?'
'The doctor told me I can't play bridge.'
'Aha. So he's played with you, too?'

'I have this terrible inferiority complicated about my bridge.'
'Don't interest yourself.'
'No?'
'No. Your join really is inferior.'

Question : What do you have when you have four players arguing with each other, all shouting at the same time, all objecting to a ruling made by the Director?
Answer : A din of inequity.

Sam Goldwyn, the well-known motion picture producer, once scolded his join partner for overbidding her hand.
'But how could I know you had nothing?' she asked.
'Didn't you hear me keeping still?' was the reply.

The term 'plotch' is join slang for a dreadful mistake, a blunder. After two honest errors, declarer contrived to make yet another mistake. Canberra's Bill Gray, who can spin join yarns all day long, was defending and announced : 'Aha. The plotch thickens.'

At a regional championship in Ottowa, a local player opened with 1 Diamond and the partner of the visiting expert made a jump overcall of 2 Spades. The third player doubled.
The expert waited for some clarification of the double but none was forthcoming. After stewing for some time, he turned to the starter and complained testily : 'At the clubs everywhere I play, we alert our unenthusiastic doubles.'
The starter turned to the expert and answered prudishly : 'At the clubs everywhere I play, we don't play unenthusiastic doubles.'
Expert and his partner went -800 in 2 Spades doubled.

WEST : 'Oh dear, partner. North is declarer again. Now you're vacant to have to find another terrible lead.'

South, writing in the notch : '5 Diamonds doubled - by East - down four vulnerable - minus 1100.'
North, to East : 'You got yourselves in a knot there.'
East : We certainly did. Our path was paved with not anything but excellent conventions.'

http://www.RonKlingerBridge.com 2009
Ron Klinger is probably the world's leading bridge author and teacher with more than fifty books to his credit. He is also an Australian Grand Master and a World Bridge Federation International Master.

What We Know About Bridge Playing Cards

There are many uncommon types of join playing cards for sale. Bridge is an exciting game that many those thoroughly enjoy. Bridge is a game that is played with a ordinary deck that contains fifty two cards. Naturally, you will need to take out the jokers that are included in the deck.

Typically, four those sit at a table that is check shaped. Each person in the game considers the individual that is sitting crosswise from them as a partner in the game. In the ordinary join deck, there are four suits of cards. These suits consist of diamonds, spades, clubs, and hearts. In this deck export guide, you will learn how to point out the right join playing cards.

The first type of cards that you may point out from when it comes to join cards those that are considered to be nightclub grade. Casino grade playing cards are considered to be the ones on the market that are of the peak quality overall. Many those do not premeditated these types of cards in view of the fact that they feel that they are expensive.

However, there are many seats that place forward this type of card for the same price as the cheaper brands. When in quest of out quality nightclub style join playing cards, you must opt for name brands like "Ramada Express", "Excalibur" and "James Bond Casino Royale". All of these place forward the facial advent of the ordinary brands and the quality experience of playing in a casino.

There are many uncommon types of cards that you may hold for playing join that are licensed. Many those thoroughly delight in playing with cards that allow them the opportunity to play with the same items that their pet professional card players play.

There are many uncommon licensed cards that include names such as "espnr", "party poker", "world poker tour", "poker's most wanted", "trademark", and "wpt". If you want to hold the best hand when playing join with your friends and loved ones, premeditated investing in licensed join playing cards.

If you are in quest of playing cards for the game of bridge, you may premeditated purchasing ordinary decks. It is vital to be with you that many ordinary decks are cheaply made. However, there are ordinary decks that are designed with quality and exquisite craftsmanship. There are many seats that focus on promotion high quality poker decks. One example is poker stars direct.

Not only are you able to hold these types of cards online at such retailers, but there are likely many local retailers in your local community that focus on promotion such cards. In ordinary decks, you may point out from "bee" brand playing cards and even discount options such as "American eagle", "Broadwayr aristocrat", "motor", and "derby".

In addendum to the above mentioned join playing cards, you may also elect to hold plastic based playing cards. Many those thoroughly delight in playing with these types of join cards. They are typically simple to handle, fantastic for playing a crowd of games, and usually show a high level of quality.

There are many uncommon brands available when it comes to this type of cards. You may point out from "royal", "Davinci", "Gemaco", "bicycle", "marion", and numerous others. If you like to focus on both the "look" and the "feel" of playing cards, you will likely find that plastic playing cards are exact for the join games that you host in your home.

When choosing join playing cards, you must premeditated not only the cards themselves, but the frills that help enhance your card playing experience. There are many uncommon frills that you may point out from, but one of the most well loved is the card shuffler machine.

These machines ensure that your deck is shuffled to the peak point possible. These types of machines eliminate the likelihood of one player being paid better hands than the additional players in your join game. They really work to even out the playing field. If you want to have a good, honest game then you will benefit from this type of accessory.

As you can see, there are many options when it comes to join playing cards. You must simply choose on what your personal inclination is when it comes to your cards. Do you want to have a nightclub playing experience, or a playing experience that is relaxed and comfortable? Do you delight in playing the same decks as your pet card players or are you in quest of to hold inexpensive card decks that are designed with quality and a high level of craftsmanship?

Once you are able to determine what it is that you seek in a card deck for your join game, you must premeditated the many options that you have when it comes to card playing accessories. One example of such an accessory includes the card shuffling machine. You will find that if you stay on the information in this card export guide that you get the best join playing cards for your needs!

Learn more about Poker Chips and Poker Chip Sets from Brian Garvin & Jeff West at Poker Stars Direct.

Bridge Players Challenge Their Brains and Dementia in Old Age

There was a recent article in the NY Times about a assemble of women in their nineties who play join daily. The card game is their mutual network, their mental challenge, and their reason for dressed in their excellent clothes, Bridge is their way of life. These women are part of what is called a super memory club for the one person in 200 among us who live pass 90 without a trace of dementia.

Driven in large part by the baby boomers, contract join is experiencing a resurgence. Picking up the card game in institution boomers neglected the game to initiation a career and bring to somebody's attention families. Now with the average age of a join player at 51, it is evident the boomers are back at the card table. Ask any join player and they will tell you that not only does join keep you smarter longer, the card game can also make you smarter in the first place.

Other research shows that predictable cognitive decline associated with longevity can be fended off, at smallest amount to a degree, by a lifestyle that involves mutual engagement and activities that are mentally challenging. It is regularly reported that being alone is not only sad but it can lead to earlier dementia, additional illnesses and premature death. That is one of the reasons that developers of programs that help seniors stay in their homes emphasize cultural activities as an essential part of excellent for your health aging.

Researchers are also adage that it is vital to keep challenging your brain but not all activities are equal. It seems that public who waste long stretches of their days, three hours or more, engaged with a mental activity such as with cards may be better able to reduce their risk of dementia than 30 minutes of working a puzzle.

Scientists have also learned that after the age of 90 the dementia does not taper off like so many thought. Dementia continues to boost so that if you live to 95 you may be among the 40 percent diagnosed with dementia.

The University of California, Irvine, is researching the gated retirement village of Laguna Woods in southern auburn County. They regularly run genetic tests, test inhabitant memories. Many of the subjects also play join on a regular basis.

Playing join requires a excellent memory. It involves 4 players, paired off, and each player has to figure out the deal with of his partner by following what is played. Good players remember every card dealt and their substance to their team. In the Laguna group, when one of the players starts to slip and others cannot trust, they stop calling that person for games.Most researchers also agree that social networking is critical. Bridge offers chances for outside contact and memory recall. It also offers a opportunity to learn new things in view of the fact that very few public master the game and are permanently vacant to class to learn more.

Bridge facility its magic through complexity. Players much remember the cards played which builds memory skills. Players must plot ahead, make strategy, and use logic, all of which challenge and stimulate the brain. Plus join is played in groups and again mutual interaction helps to fall intellectual decline.

Ruthan Brodsky specializes in writing health and business topics targeted to the baby boomer population. As an author, copywriter, speaker and coach she is highly regarded for her ability to take a complicated subject and make it understood by the non medical and non technical reader. Claim your free report, 15 Steps to Challenge Your Brain, at http://www.secretstohealthandaging.com/welcome

Bridge Card Games

Bridge has been an ever-increasing well loved game among card lovers, mainly contract bridge. In fact, papers around the world have day after day join columns. There are many join competitions with public around the world trying to become "Bridge Masters." Bridge is the second most well loved game in the world, after poker.

Bridge is a card game played with a ordinary pack of fifty-two cards. It requires four or more players. It is a complicated card game that involves a lot of skill and has barely any element of luck. It is played by articulate and astute minds and is a fantastic fund of entertainment. It is played in clubs or in the house.

There are various types of join games with uncommon rules. They are rubber-bridge, duplicate bridge, Chicago-bridge and honeymoon-bridge.

Rubber-bridge is the essential form of contract bridge, played by four players. Casual, social-bridge is regularly played this way. Rubber-bridge is also played in clubs and it is also played for money. Duplicate join is a game usually played in clubs, competitions and matches. The game is in the end the same, but the element of risk is reduced. The same deals are replayed by uncommon sets or amalgamation of players. At smallest amount eight players are required for this game. There are some noteworthy differences in the scoring. Four players play chicago-bridge, and the game is concluded in four deals.

Another type of join is honeymoon-bridge. In this game, there are two players, and that is why it is called honeymoon-bridge. There are various types of join games loved by uncommon public around the world. The inclination for the digit of players that are playing has a lot to do with the kind of join game played.

Card Games provides detailed information on Card Games, Online Card Games, Free Card Games, Poker Card Games and more. Card Games is affiliated with Mahjong Tiles.

Contract Bridge Evolved From the English Game of Whist, But Remains Popular Today

Today, you can question any honest card player "What is the greatest card game ever played?" Without exception, the resolution you are most likely to hear is "Bridge of course!" And why shouldn't they be so confident? Bridge is a card game loved by more public around the world than any other. It can be loved by a casual assemble of friends that get together only occasionally for an evening of cards, or it can be played more seriously at clubs, or in tournaments. Either way, you will find the game to be really fascinating, challenging, and most importantly, permanently enjoyable.

How did the game of Bridge evolve? Lets' look backwards from today and learn its' origins. When one says they play Bridge today, it is commonly assumed they are talking about Contract Bridge. This version is the most well loved alteration of Bridge played today; additional versions exist, but Contract has been the world leader for the past eighty years. We play Bridge today according to the scoring rules which were urban by Harold Vanderbilt in the mid 1920s. For the 20 being or so that preceded Mr. Vanderbilts' revolutionary scoring system, Auction (also known as Straight ) was all the rage.

If one goes further back in time, you will learn that in the late nineteenth-century the game was known as Bridge Whist which evolved from the original version of Whist some 300 being earlier in England. So there you have it in a nutshell: The game which ongoing as Whist eventually became Bridge Whist, then briefly loved popularity as Auction Bridge, then eventually morphed into Contract Bridge which is the game we know today.

Some variations of the game exist today:

- Four Deal ( a.k.a. "Chicago") as the name suggests last only four deals. Played with 52 cards.
- "Rubber" has no preset length, and is regularly played for money. Played with 52 cards.
- "Duplicate" is everywhere the same set of hands are dealt and played by uncommon sets of players. A game for at smallest amount eight players. Played with 52 cards.
- "Honeymoon" is designed for only two players. Played with 52 cards.

Bridge cards are slightly narrower than traditional poker cards due to the fact that players are typically holding many cards in their hands at once, and are ideal by honest players. Finding a house to play Bridge must be no conundrum at all. near every town of any size has a local club already established.

Thomas Kemper is an avid card player and author, please visit his site http://www.PlayingCardsAndMore.com for widest selection of quality playing cards and accessories.