Spectacular play in penny game

“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, 10 ... and Minnie won with the king! She led a heart to dummy and passed the nine of diamonds.

“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.

25 28 *0-0, in tennis *Improving trend

Fed. power dept. Most draftable Only Canadian MLB city

Author Beattie Itemized concert songs in playing order

... and what all the words in answers to starred clues comprise

Here, in France Stew holder

Had too much, briefly

Elliptical

*The two-engine F-15 Eagle, e.g. *Greeting card for an ailing friend

Bird on Canada’s dollar coin

Poet Elinor or author Philip Longtime SeaWorld attraction Rip to pieces 52 55

56 58

59

60 61 62 63 1 2 3

4 5

6 7 8

9

10 11

Enjoy Aspen Peter, pumpkinwise *Lack of subtlety Online finance firm

One-named

Deco artist Adored singer, say Harbor towns Caught in the act Wet with morning moisture

DOWN

Fluctuate

The “E” in QED Foxx of “Sanford and Son”

Ling of “The Crow” Like an obedient dog on a walk Semi fuel

French states Agreeing gestures

Shows contempt for “Weeping” tree It’s split in Captain Kirk’s “to boldly go” 12 13 18 23 24 25 26 27

28

29 30 32 35 36

Agitated state “Auld Lang __” Other, to Ortiz Votin’ yes on Copies

Jumped Currently airing Device providing fresh air

Prefix with form or brow

Lite to the max Cook over coals “__ King Cole” Temporary stays Barbara of “I Dream of Jeannie” 37 41 43

44

45 46 48 49 50 51 52 53

54 57

Hanoi holiday Be indebted to Vegetarian credo

Whirl on the dance floor

High dice roll Neat

Word of location Ooze

Angel’s topper Cows and sows Marquis de __ Don’t have to ask

In a shiftless way Ducked out of sight

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