DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Cy the Cynic says you can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all the time — but you can fool yourself anytime.

In today’s deal, West led a low spade against 3NT, and South put up dummy’s queen, winning as East signaled with the eight. South next led the king of hearts from dummy, but East ducked.

When declarer continued with the queen, East guessed well to win and return a spade, and West took the king and led a third spade to set up his suit. Then South could only cash his top diamonds and ace of clubs. He got one more trick, down two.

South was fooling himself when he won the first spade in dummy. To make 3NT, he needs to make use of dummy’s hearts — and needs an entry to dummy. South must play low from dummy on the first spade and take the ace.

South forces out the ace of hearts next. If East shifts to a diamond, South can win and lead a spade, forcing an entry to dummy. He is sure of two spades, four hearts, two diamonds and one club. DAILY QUESTION

You hold:

partner opens one heart, and you bid three hearts (a “limit raise” to invite game). Partner then bids four clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s four clubs is an ace-showing cue bid to try for slam. Since your hand is no better than average in high cards, to sign off at four hearts would be reasonable. But since your king of clubs may be a key card, cue-bid five clubs. Partner