FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN

“That Cy is so lazy,” Rose sighed to me. “If he died and was destined for heaven, he would want heaven to send somebody to pick him up.”

Cy the Cynic never considers his play as declarer. He seizes on the first line he sees.

“Avoids wear and tear on the brain,” Cy insists.

As today’s South, Cy opened two clubs — I would have settled for one diamond — then rebid a lusty 2NT. North had just enough to raise to 3NT. When West led the ten of clubs, Cy took the queen and fired back the king to set up his ninth trick. Eight Tricks

Alas for the Cynic, West took the ace and exited with a diamond, giving away nothing. Cy ran his diamonds, but the defenders discarded carefully, and Cy won only eight tricks.

Cy’s haste was his downfall. After he wins Trick One, he must take the A-K of diamonds, then lead the king of clubs. When West wins, he must give dummy the jack of clubs or break the hearts or spades, letting Cy win an extra trick in a major suit and nine tricks in all.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ K9 4 ♥ Q83 ♦ 10 3 ♣ A 10 9 8 3. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond 1NT and he next bids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner has “reversed” the normal order of showing two long suits — higher ranking first — and so promises a strong hand. You must not pass; his bid is forcing. Since you have stoppers in the other two suits but lack strong support for diamonds or hearts, bid 2NT and await your partner’s next bid.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable