FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

CY’S PARTNER ISSUES

Cy the Cynic has gone through dozens of partners but is never happy. He’s like the lonely pyromaniac: always looking for the perfect match.

As today’s West, Cy led his singleton heart against four spades. East took the ace and, diagnosing the lead as a singleton, returned a heart. Cy ruffed and led a diamond, but declarer won and led a trump. East’s ace won the defenders’ last trick. South won the diamond return, drew trumps and threw two clubs on dummy’s good hearts.

“Time for a new partner,” Cy growled. Club Trick Perfect partners don’t exist. I know Cy’s partners have never had one. But East erred. East can see a heart ruff plus his two aces, but the defense will also need a club trick — and must establish it before South can draw trumps and discard on the hearts. East must assume that Cy has the K-J of clubs and lead a club at Trick Two. Since East has the ace of trumps, and the bidding suggests that South has only a four-card spade suit, Cy’s ruff can wait. Daily Question

You hold: Spades K 1075 Hearts J 10642 Diamond sA Q Clubs A 10. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids two clubs and you try two spades. Partner next bids three diamonds.

What do you say?

Answer: To bid 3NT might be right, but partner’s auction suggests six diamonds, four clubs and extra strength. If he had a minimum 6-4 hand, he would have rebid two diamonds. Raise to four diamonds (forcing). Partner may hold Q 3, A,

K J 10764, K Q 43. North N-S vulnerable dealer