DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Cy the Cynic was late — and agitated — when he stalked into the club for his penny game.

“There was an accident on the freeway,” Cy snarled. “I was stuck for an hour.”

“Cy’s fit to be tied up in traffic,” Ed muttered to me.

Cy got tied up again in his first deal. At 3NT he counted nine tricks: two hearts, four diamonds and three clubs. The Cynic won the first heart with the ace, saving the king as an entry to his hand. He took the A-K of clubs and next led the queen of diamonds to keep communication. East played low.

Cy next led the jack, but East ducked again. When West discarded, Cy couldn’t bring in the diamonds: He led a spade from dummy. East put up the king and led his last heart, and Cy won and cashed the queen of clubs. When the jack didn’t fall, he had to go down one.

“Nice defense,” Cy growled, and it was. If Cy ducks the first heart, he breaks the defenders’ link in hearts, but then a spade shift defeats him. Best defense always beats 3NT. DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 10 8 H 9 3 D K 7 5 3 C J 9 7 4. Your partner opens one heart, you respond 1NT and he bids two spades. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner has “reversed” the usual order of showing two long suits: highestranking first. He therefore promises substantial extra strength, and almost all players would treat his two spades as forcing. Bid 2NT. If partner continues with three hearts or three spades, you’ll raise to game.