Cy takes a hint

CY the Cynic says he can take a hint, as long as it’s subtle.

When Cy was today’s West, defending against South’s four hearts, he led the ace of spades. East followed with the three, presumably saying that he didn’t like spades (or maybe saying that he thought Cy had picked a lousy opening lead).

The Cynic shifted to the queen of clubs: not a success. South took the king, drew trumps with the ace and queen, threw two diamonds on the KQ of spades and wound up with an overtrick.

FIRST TRICK

East knew he wanted Cy to shift to a diamond. East’s three of spades hinted at a shift, but Cy needed more than a hint; he couldn’t be sure which suit to shift to. To get a diamond shift, East must produce a striking signal at the first trick: the jack of spades.

An unusually high spade serves as a suit-preference signal. It asks West to shift to the higher-ranking of the other two suits. If West leads a low diamond at Trick Two, the defenders get the four tricks they are due.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ A97 654 ♥ 7 ♦ KJ2 ♣ Q J 10. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids two diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have no attractive action. You have enough values to invite game but not to commit to game. A jump to three spades would invite, but I would be reluctant to jump in a ragged six-card suit. Bid 2NT. If partner next bids three diamonds, showing a minimum hand with five cards in each red suit, pass.