FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

“I read that eight servings of fruits and vegetables daily can act as a mood enhancer,” I told Cy the Cynic, who is always in need of such help.

“Try it. Maybe you’ll become an optimist.” “It’ll never work,” said Cy.

Cy was today’s South, and he and North bid like optimists. Against four spades, West led a heart, and East won and shifted to the queen of diamonds, threatening Cy with four losers.

Cy won with the ace and led a trump, and East took the ace to continue diamonds. The Cynic won, drew trumps and led a club, but West took the ace and led a diamond to East. Down one.

High Clubs

Cy gave up without a fight; he needed a dose of optimism in the play. At Trick Three, Cy must lead a club. West wins and leads another diamond, and Cy wins in dummy and leads high clubs.

East ruffs the third club, but Cy overruffs, ruffs a heart in dummy and leads another high club. Then if East ruffs, he must spend his ace of trumps, and Cy pitches his diamond loser and makes his game.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ A 7 ♥ A K 10 9 5 ♦ Q J 10 7 ♣ 9 4. You open one heart, your partner responds two clubs, you bid two diamonds and he raises to three diamonds. What do you say?

Answer: Your game chances justify a further bid. (In a style where partner’s two clubs was forcing to game, you would have to bid again.) Bid three hearts, suggesting a sixcard suit or a strong fivecarder. If partner has K 6 5 4 3, J 6, K 9 6 5, A 5, four hearts may be a winning contract. East dealer

E-W vulnerable