DAILY CROSSWORD
ACROSS
Soap-drop indicator Prepared for pie, in a way Trunk extension Buddhist priest The “A” in the Tokyo studio AIC Stargazing subject? Rural stopovers Retro filter choice Importunate solicitor Spin-off with a bluesy theme song by John Lee Hooker 2000s political slogan Initial payments European hub Industrious type Nut
Ritual heap Rapper will.__ Half a piano duo? Chaparral plant Longfellow’s “The Bell of __” Iwo Jima flagraiser Hayes Half a classic cowboy nickname
40 Top of the order? 42 DNA units 44 1990s game console release, initially
45 Strong feeling 46 ’60s-’70s singer
born Ellen Cohen 50 Catcall? 53 Circumstances, idiomatically Hilarious Look for Certain something “Obviously!” Put away Highland language 60 Irritations found
in clouds
61 Iowa Department of Transportation city 1 5 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 26 27 29 32 33 34 35 37 38 39 54 55 56 57 58 59
DOWN
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 22 25 “Naturalis Historia” author Poker for knights?
Old Dodges It often looks like gibberish “No more discussion” Like turnpike ramps Wisconsin college
Abu Dhabi bigwig Shaking event Prolonged list, as of complaints “It’s safe to sit next to me” Onetime accessory for Britney Spears and Keri Russell Nonkosher sandwich, usually Techie stereotype “Hakuna Matata” lifestyle Ones in it for the long haul
DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:
My “Simple Saturday” columns focus on improving basic technique and developing logical thinking.
As a defender, count your tricks. It takes four to beat a major-suit game, but in the heat of battle, defenders may lose sight of the target.
Today’s West had no attractive opening lead against four spades. To his credit, he found a diamond — the winning lead — but when East took the ace, he returned partner’s lead. West took the king of diamonds but was stuck. He shifted to a club, and South won, drew trumps and took three more clubs to pitch a heart. Making four.
West’s good lead went for nothing because East didn’t count tricks. East 27 28 29 30 31 32 36 37 39 Mitt Romney’s alma mater: abbr. Modern folklore Card game played by Phileas Fogg Annual observance celebrating commitment to the planet Behind
__ tem Darwin’s __ Beagle Graph point’s x-coordinate Low joint knows his side will get no clubs — if West has club honors, declarer can finesse successfully — and if West has a trump trick, he will always get it.
Since the defense will need at least one heart trick, East must shift to a heart at Trick Two. West will take the A-Q and cash his king of diamonds for down one.
DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ Q106 ♥ J862
◆ 85 ♣ A Q 10 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids one spade and you try 1NT. Partner then bids two hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your 1NT showed six to 10 points. Your partner would not have suggested a higherlevel contract, especially 41 Turtle’s mouth 43 Vital vessels 44 Didn’t play 46 Crete’s highest elev.
47 Top squad 48 Martin or Miller 49 “I’ma Be Me” stand-up comic Wanda
51 Kodos’ alien cohort on “The Simpsons”
It can be pumped Honey, in slang 52 53 at hearts on a possible 4-3 trump fit, unless he had substantially more than minimum values. Jump to 3NT.