DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Cy the Cynic continues to battle his weight. I think Cy’s idea of exercise is to combine a crunch with a lunge: In a word, he has lunch.

Cy was declarer at today’s 3NT. He took the king of hearts and wanted the next eight tricks since West’s hearts were ready to cash. Cy led the ace and a low club, expecting a normal 3-2 break, but when West threw a spade, Cy was in trouble. He could only continue clubs, but when East got in and led a heart, the result was down one.

Cy would do better if he ordered a combination. After he wins the first trick, he takes the A-K-Q of diamonds. If diamonds broke 3-3, he would be home.

When East shows out on the third diamond, the Cynic takes the K-A of clubs. If the clubs broke well, Cy could lead a spade to the ace and run the clubs to make two overtricks.

When clubs break 4-1, Cy still has a chance: He is in his hand to finesse with the jack of spades. He wins two spades, three clubs, three diamonds and a heart.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ Q7543 ♥ K8 ◆ 7 532 ♣ A 4. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Bid two spades. Your partner has opening values or more and surely has spade support, so you have enough to compete. If you held Q 7 5 4 3, 10 2,K 5 3 2, A 4, your hand would be worth a jump to three spades to invite game, but your king of hearts may be worthless.