DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Cy the Cynic says we learn something new every day — and it may be that what we learned the day before is wrong.

Cy was today’s East, trying to beat 3NT, and West led a club, the unbid suit. South took dummy’s ace — Cy signaled with the nine — and led the 10 of diamonds. Cy played the three, and South’s king won.

Declarer then switched to spades, forcing out West’s ace. Cy won the next club and led a third, but South had four spades, two hearts, two clubs and a diamond.

Learning players are taught to play “second hand low” on defense, but Cy is no beginner. He should have known to rise with his ace on the first diamond and lead a low club, racing to set up his long suit. He can assume that South has Q-J-x of clubs. South has only eight tricks, and when he leads a spade, West wins and leads his last club for down one.

We learn new things every day. Sometimes it’s that bridge “rules” are there to be broken.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ 1042 ♥ J4 ◆ A 63 ♣ K 9 7 6 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond 1NT, he bids two clubs and you raise to three clubs. Partner then bids 3NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your raise to three clubs was limited by your 1NT response, so your partner won’t expect more strength than you possess. He is supposed to know what he is doing. You have a fifth club, an ace and a possibly useful jack in his first suit. Pass and hope fortune smiles.