I found Cy the Cynic in the lounge, writing an alimony check — “feeding hay to a dead horse,” he says. Cy’s least favorite holding is a doubleton K-Q; it reminds him of his lack of marital success.
In a team match, Cy bid to six spades. When he saw dummy, he muttered that he was doomed.
Cy took the king of hearts and the A-K of trumps. When East threw a heart, the Cynic cashed his three high diamonds — and East threw another heart. Cy ruffed dummy’s last diamond, took the ace of hearts and A-K of clubs and exited with a trump. If West’s shape had been 3-4-4-2, he would have been end-played; but West cashed the queen of clubs.
“I had no chance,” Cy growled.
OTHER TABLE
At the other table, South made the slam. He took the king of hearts and the A-K of trumps, but then cashed the ace of hearts and exited with a trump.
West had to guess: Either a diamond or a club lead could have been best. When West misguessed by leading a diamond, South’s ten won his 12th trick.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 10 9 7 4 H K Q D A K 6 4 C A 9 6. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. You double, and your partner responds (“advances”) one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: You must be wary; partner was compelled to act and may have a poor hand. To raise, you would need a hand worth about 17 points with four-card support. You have 16, but your heart honors are devalued. Pass. You would bid two spades with K1094,K2,AK64,A96.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 10 9 7 4
H K Q
D A K 6 4
C A 9 6
WEST
S Q 6 2
H 10 9 8
D J 9 8 2
C Q 5 3
EAST
S 3
H J 6 5 4 3 2
D 7 5
C J 10 8 4
SOUTH
S A K J 8 5
H A 7
D Q 10 3
C K 7 2
North East South West
1 NT Pass 3 S Pass
4 S Pass 6 S All Pass
Opening lead — H 10
©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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