DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“I’ll never live it down,” Cy the Cynic moaned. “Millard made a game, and I went down.”

Millard Pringle, a regular at my club, is a quiet little man who gets lost in the maze of bridge “rules.” In a team match, Cy and Millard both raced into 3NT after West opened the bidding. Both Wests led a heart, perhaps unwisely, and Cy and Millard won with the queen.

“I led the king of diamonds next,” Cy said, “and West ducked, won the next diamond and led a second heart to my ace. When I took the jack of diamonds, East discarded. All I could do was lose a fourth diamond — West’s six was high — and he cashed three hearts for down one.”

“How did Millard operate?” I asked.

“He believes in cashing winners, not setting them up,” the Cynic growled. “After he won the first heart, he took his high spades. West had to discard twice, and he naturally threw a club and ... a diamond. Then Millard started the diamonds and had no trouble making 3NT.”

Cy was outdone. Millard’s play had nothing to lose.

Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts, he rebids two spades

and you try 2NT. Partner next bids three clubs. What do you say? ANSWER: This case is close. Partner has six spades, four clubs and minimum values. Your 2NT was conservative some players would have committed to game. Though your heart honors may face a singleton, bid four spades. Partner will have a West dealer Both sides vulnerable