DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

When I watched today’s deal, Cy the Cynic was South, the declarer at a pushy 3NT.

West led a spade, and Cy captured East’s 10 and led a club to dummy’s king. He came back to the ace of diamonds to lead a second club. This time West took his ace and led another spade, and the Cynic was sunk. He took the queen of clubs but couldn’t reach his hand for the good clubs. Cy led the king and a third diamond, setting up the 13th diamond in dummy, but lost a diamond, a club and three spades.

North was unhappy. “You lost a cold game,” he barked. “Get your brain in gear.”

“I can’t,” Cy told him. “I’m shiftless.”

When Cy led a diamond to his hand at Trick Three, it was too late to shift into reverse. Though it’s a counterintuitive play, Cy must instead come to the ace of spades. When he leads a second club, West can win and cash three spades, but Cy can get to his hand with the ace of diamonds for the good clubs. He wins four clubs, two spades, two diamonds and a heart.

DAILY QUESTION:

You hold: ♠ Q9732 ♥ K 6 ◆ J102 ♣ A J 9. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two diamonds and you try 2NT. Partner bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner’s auction has suggested six hearts, four diamonds and more than minimum strength. If he held a minimum 6-4 hand, he would have rebid two hearts to limit his strength promptly. Raise to four hearts.