Cy the Cynic still struggles with his weight.
“My doctor said to avoid those intimate dinners for three,” Cy told me, “unless two other people were with me, so I asked Unlucky Louie and Wendy to go last night. I thought the talk would help me eat in moderation, but I hardly got in a word.”
Cy displayed today’s deal.
“I was at six diamonds,” the Cynic said. “I drew trumps, led a spade to the ace and let the queen of clubs ride. West won and led the king of spades. I ruffed and took the A-J of clubs. When West discarded, I ruffed my fourth club in dummy but had a heart to lose.”
BAD LUCK
“Wendy wouldn’t stop insisting that my play was hopeless. Meanwhile, Louie was complaining about his luck. I wound up eating my food and some of theirs.”
Cy took the wrong club finesse. After he draws trumps, his best play is to lead a club toward dummy’s queen. West must win, and Cy later discards two hearts from dummy on the clubs. If East has the king, Cy succeeds if clubs break 3-3.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A 7 5 2 H Q 6 2 D 7 6 3 2 C Q 2. Only your side is vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens three diamonds. Your partner overcalls three hearts. The next player passes. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your partner may have stretched a bit to act, and bad breaks are possible. Still, you seem to have three useful honors, and his hand is surely short in diamonds. Bid four hearts and wish your partner well.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A 7 5 2
H Q 6 2
D 7 6 3 2
C Q 2
WEST
S K 4
H K J 9 8 5 3
D 10 9 8
C K 8
EAST
S Q J 9 8 6 3
H 7 4
D 4
C 10 9 7 3
SOUTH
S 10
H A 10
D A K Q J 5
C A J 6 5 4
South West North East
1 D 1 H Dbl Pass
3 C Pass 3 D Pass
4 C Pass 4 S Pass
6 D All Pass
Opening lead — D 10
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Originally published at Frank Stewart