ANSWERS TO All PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 55

PREMIER CROSSWORD SUDOKU MONSTER L.A. TIMES CROSSWORD BRIDGE

1. Opening one diamond would leave you with no good rebid after a one-spade response. Minimum opening bids with rebid problems should usually not be opened. Pass.

2. Two no-trump would not be the worst bid we’ve seen, but we prefer to bid naturally with an unbalanced hand. Bid two diamonds.

3. Pre-empting with two defensive tricks outside your suit is a poor idea, but this hand is too good to pass. Bid one spade.

4. Pass, quickly, with an air of supreme confidence. You might have a better spot, but you can’t get there from here.

5. A truly weak hand would just pass the hand out, so a weak two-bid in fourth chair is a pretty good hand. We think it looks something like this. Bid two hearts.

6. Two no-trump would show 18-19 high-card points, so that’s out. We can’t pass either because game is still possible. This is an unusual problem and we would make an unusual bid. Bid two clubs.

JUMBLE

SUNDAY’S ANSWERS: EMBARK gUITAR OPENLY IRONIC SUMMON hECTIC The hen had laid eggs for years. She was finally ready to retire because she was — No spring chicken

ACROSTIC

(Joseph) EPSTEIN: LINEBACKER FOOD: I cannot imagine the Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher whispering at halftime to a teammate that he has a reservation that night at a restaurant where they serve the most divine salade nicoise. A. Eggbeater h. Lather O. Kittenish B. Paten I. Ithaca P. Ecumenical C. Stair J. Numismatist Q. Revision D. Throat K. Everything R. Finers E. Escharotic L. Breathe S. Overthrow F. Immediate M. Athanasia T. Oshawa g. Nathan hale N. Changeable U. Deters

CYPHER

In my behavior with people, if I didn’t trust or like someone, I would either say nothing or mumble. I got to be awfully good at mumbling. — Marlon Brando

CHALLENGER