“You told me you were invited to join the Procrastinators Club,” I said to Cy the Cynic. “Did you accept?”
“I did,” Cy replied tersely.
“Well, have you been to a meeting?”
“I will,” the Cynic said, “when they get around to having one.”
They ought to make Cy an officer, if they ever elect any, since he is a pro at procrastination. In a team match, both Souths played at 3NT, and West led a spade. At one table, South won in dummy and led a low heart: three, queen, king. He won the next spade, lost a heart to East’s ace and had 10 tricks.
BETTER
When Cy was declarer, East found a better defense. When Cy led a heart from dummy at Trick Two, East rose with the ace and led the jack of diamonds. If the Cynic had finessed with the queen, he would have gone down, off three diamonds and two hearts.
But Cy saw that he didn’t need an immediate finesse. He procrastinated by putting up the ace and leading another heart. When West had the king, Cy was safe for an overtrick.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 9 8 7 H K 8 2 D K 9 8 7 C 7 3 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, you respond (“advance”) one diamond, the opening bidder rebids two clubs and your partner bids two hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: If your partner had a fair hand with long hearts, he would have overcalled one heart at his first turn. To double and then bid his suit, he promises a hand worth 17 or more points. Game is possible. Raise to three hearts.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A Q 10
H J 6 4
D 5 3 2
C K Q 10 5
WEST
S 9 8 7
H K 8 2
D K 9 8 7
C 7 3 2
EAST
S 6 5 3 2
H A 5 3
D J 10 6
C 9 8 4
SOUTH
S K J 4
H Q 10 9 7
D A Q 4
C A J 6
South West North East
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 9
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Originally published at Frank Stewart