FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

“She has me so intimidated I can’t think straight,” Cy the Cynic told me.

“You’re intimidated by a sweet old lady?” I asked.

“It’s those glasses,” Cy growled.

Minnie Bottoms wears old bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay.

“Look at this deal,” Cy said. “I played at four hearts, and Minnie, West, led a club.” “She hates to lead from kings,” I observed. “True,” Cy shrugged, “but she can’t tell a king from a jack, so who knows which honor she led from? I played dummy’s queen: king, ace.” Discard “Next I led the ace of trumps,” the Cynic went on, “and Minnie played the king. Against you, I would have taken the A-K of spades for a club discard and led a trump to my ten for 10 easy tricks.”

“But Minnie might have played the king from K-J,” I noted.

“I ‘misguessed’ and took the queen next,” Cy said grimly. “When she discarded, I tried a spade to dummy’s jack. I went down three.” Poor Cy. Minnie has his number. Daily Question

You hold: ♠ 2 ♥ A Q 10 7 4 3 ♦ Q 10 3 ♣A

8 3. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

Answer: Assume that you judge to insist on game. A bid of three hearts would only invite, and partner may have no heart tolerance anyway: He bid both minors and has a few spades since the opponents haven’t bid them. Bid three diamonds if that bid is forcing. If not, try a “fourth-suit” bid of two spades. South dealer N-S vulnerable