Cy’s patented excuse

CY the Cynic says there is no excuse for laziness, but if you find one, he wants to know about it.

Cy was declarer at 3NT, and West led the ten of hearts. Giving the dummy his usual two-second appraisal, Cy played the queen. East won and did well to shift to a diamond: ten, king, three. West returned the nine: seven, four, ace.

The Cynic next took the A-K of clubs, but West discarded. East won the next club and ran the diamonds for down two.

FIRST HEART

I’m afraid Cy had no excuse for going down, unless you’re willing to accept laziness. Cy must win the first heart with the ace, not giving East a chance for a troublesome diamond shift. Cy then comes to his ace of clubs, goes to the ace of spades and leads a club to his jack.

As the cards lie, Cy makes an overtrick. But if West took the queen of clubs, he could do no damage with a diamond shift. Cy could win the (say) spade return and force out the king of hearts, winning four clubs, two spades, two hearts and a diamond.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: A 10 5 4 AQ J 7 3 6 5 3 2. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he rebids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER

You have enough values to bid again, inviting game, but no invitational action is attractive. Since partner’s two hearts promises a six-card or longer suit, a raise to three hearts would be reasonable. If you prefer to risk 2NT with your balanced pattern, fine. If partner’s hand is shapely, his next bid will say so.

South dealer N-S vulnerable Opening lead – 10