Daily Bridge Club

That’s a wrap

“I know you two argue constantly,” I told Cy the Cynic and Wendy, our feminist, in the club lounge. “Why not declare a Christmas truce?”

“I’ll say this,” Wendy growled. “Anyone who thinks men and women are equal never saw a man trying to wrap a Christmas gift.”

Cy had tried to wrap up 10 tricks at today’s four spades. He won the second diamond and could ruff one heart in dummy but would have a diamond and a heart to lose plus a trump. So Cy led a third diamond, hoping for a 3-3 split.

DOWN TWO

East won and led a fourth diamond: ruff by Cy, overruff. Later the Cynic managed to lose a trump to East and a heart. Down two.

“He’s inept at wrapping packages too,” Wendy sighed.

Cy gift-wrapped 200 points for East-West. After Cy wins the second diamond, he can take the ace of clubs, ruff a club, cash the A-K of trumps and ruff a club. He takes the top hearts and ruffs a heart in dummy for his ninth trick. Dummy then leads the last club, and whatever East does, Cy scores his ten of trumps.

DAILY QUESTION

Youhold: 107632 AK43 A 8 4 2. You are the dealer. What is your opening call?

ANSWER: Many players would feel compelled to open due to the three Quick Tricks. Still, the goal is winning tricks, and your long suit is ragged and may be difficult or impossible to set up. I fear that I would open one spade like most players, but I would rather hold A K 6 3 2, A 4 3 2, 9 8 4, 2. Hands are worth more when the honors are located in long suits. North dealer N-S vulnerable Opening lead — J ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC