Bridge On the phone

Cy the Cynic says, in character, that cellphones are getting thinner and smarter while people seem to be doing the opposite.

Cy was West in today’s deal, and since East had overcalled in spades, Cy led the king against four hearts. South took the ace and started the trumps. When East took his ace, he cashed the queen of spades and ... led a third spade.

“He expected me to ruff,” the Cynic told me grimly. “It never crossed his mind that I’d held only one trump.” OVERTRICK When South’s jack of spades won, he drew trumps and ran the diamonds to discard his club losers. He made an overtrick instead of going down.

“Partner’s cell phone may have been working,” Cy grumbled. “His brain cells were dead.”

After East takes the queen of spades, he should cash the ace of clubs. If Cy still had a trump, he would signal with a discouraging club, and East would lead a third spade. As the cards actually lay, Cy would signal with the jack of clubs, and East would lead another club. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ K6 ♥ 2 ♦ 9 8 6 3 2♣ K J 10 5 2. Your partner opens one spade, you respond 1NT, he bids two hearts and you return to two spades. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say? ANSWER: Your partner appears to have 5-4-0-4 or perhaps 5-4-1-3 distribution. He remains interested in game since he would have passed at two spades otherwise. His third bid has improved your hand mightily; your club and spade holdings are golden. Jump to five clubs. North dealer Both sides vulnerable