DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“I know you won’t talk about your former job,” I said to Cy the Cynic, “but at least tell me why you quit.”

“My paycheck had more deductions than a Sherlock Holmes novel,” Cy said morosely.

Cy plays in my club’s penny game, and his take-home pay would be greater if he credited his opponents with logical play. As declarer at today’s four spades, Cy took dummy’s A-K of hearts to discard a club. He next led a club to his queen, and West took the king and led a high heart.

The Cynic ruffed and led the ace and queen of trumps. East won and led a diamond, and Cy ... finessed with his queen. West produced the king, and East got a diamond at the end for down one.

Cy missed a deduction. If East had the king of diamonds, he would never have given Cy a chance to take a winning finesse. East would have exited safely with a trump or club. Since East is willing for Cy to try a diamond finesse, Cy must not try it. He should take the ace, draw trumps and lead a low diamond.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ 742 ♥ QJ1065 ♦ KJ ♣ K 10 8. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids two clubs and you return to two diamonds. Partner next bids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Your two-diamond “false preference” showed at most 10 points, and partner would have quit if he saw no chance for game. His two hearts says he remains interested. Since your hand is an absolute maximum, bid four hearts. Partner may hold 8, K94, AQ1065, AQ72.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable