Bridge Play

Cy the Cynic entered the club lounge with a glass jar full of dollar bills.

“I’m crowd-funding,” Cy said, “to buy Minnie new glasses.”

“The pair she has seem to work well,” I demurred.

Minnie Bottoms, our senior member, wears old bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay. Cy has been

Minnie’s chief victim.

In a team match, both Wests led a heart against four spades, and East took the ace and led a low club. Declarer played low.

DISCARD

“At my table,” Cy said,

“my partner took the jack and led the king. I was afraid to overtake. South might have held the Q-4 and three low diamonds, and he would pitch a diamond on dummy’s ten. So I played low — and South took the rest.

“Minnie was West at the other table,” the Cynic went on. “She won the first club with the king, thinking it was the jack, and returned the jack. East won and led a third club. Down one.”

“Quite a spectacle,” I said.

Glasses aside, Minnie’s play was correct.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ AK95 ♥ 3

♦ AK1074 ♣ 10 8 5. Your partner opens one heart. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: The correct response is two diamonds. If your hand were weaker — say your ace of diamonds were a low one — finding a fit in a major suit would be a priority, and you would respond one spade. But since your actual hand is strong, respond in your long suit. If partner rebids two hearts, you will continue with a bid of two spades.