FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

WENDY’S LONG RUMINATION

When I watched today’s deal in a penny game, Wendy, my club’s feminist, was South, and her adversary Cy the Cynic was East. Against Wendy’s 3NT, West led the queen of diamonds, and Wendy won and disappeared into a long huddle.

“Can we finish the deal before midnight?” Cy asked.

“I’ll be ready in a minute,” Wendy scowled. “Sure,” Cy growled.

“When a woman says she’ll be ready in a minute, she’ll be ready,” Wendy told him. “It’s not like when a man says the ballgame will be over in a minute.”

At length, Wendy led a spade and played low from dummy!

“It took you forever to find a play like that?” Cy snorted. Second Spade

He won with the eight and returned a diamond, but Wendy won and led a second spade to the king, forcing out the ace. She won three spades, two hearts, two diamonds and two clubs.

Wendy goes down if she doesn’t duck the first spade. If she leads to the king instead, Cy can duck, and Wendy can’t set up the spades and takes only eight tricks. Daily Question

You hold: 43 A6 43 AK4 A K 3 2. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens three diamonds. What do you say?

Answer: Preempts work. That’s why players keep making them. You can’t double without spade support. To pass might be a winning action; you could expect to beat three diamonds. Still, the lure of a vulnerable game bonus is strong. Bid 3NT. To avoid being talked out of a game, you must assume your partner has a few points.

South dealer Both sides vulnerable