DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“I’ve begged and cajoled,” Cy the Cynic told me. “She’s as obstinate as death.”

Minnie Bottoms, my club’s senior member, wears old bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay. She victimizes Cy more than anyone. He has tried, futilely, to get her to visit an optometrist.

Minnie was today’s South in a penny game, and Cy, West, led the five of spades against 3NT: four, ten ... and Minnie won with the king! She led a heart to dummy and passed the nine of diamonds.

Overtrick: “I took the queen,” Cy told me, “and led the queen of spades. Minnie took dummy’s ace and forced out my ace of diamonds. When I led a third spade, she produced the jack and made an overtrick.”

Minnie thought her king of spades was the jack. If she wins the first spade with the jack, Cy will shift to clubs when he takes the queen of diamonds, and the defense gets three clubs and two diamonds.

“I’ll pay for her eye exam,” the Cynic grumbled. “I’ll also pay for new glasses.” Daily question

You hold: ♠ KJ8 ♥ Q76 ♦ KJ852 ♣ A 4. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. What do you say?

Answer: This hand is good for defense, not so good for offense. To overcall in diamonds at the two level with a ragged suit is asking for trouble — if not immediately, then later when your partner overcompetes. You might survive a takeout double or a hungry 1NT overcall, but a pass is your soundest action. South dealer N-S vulnerable