DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Cul de Sac will end publication Sept. 23

“You know the only good thing about making a bad decision?” Cy the Cynic asked me. “You may have a great story to tell.”

I had to listen. Cy was East, and against 3NT West led the king of spades. South won the second spade and led a diamond to dummy’s jack.

“I took the king,” Cy said, “and found the killing shift to the king of clubs.”

It was a good decision by the Cynic. He forced out South’s last entry to his hand while the diamonds were blocked.

“Declarer played low,” Cy went on, “won the next club with the queen and cashed the A-Q of diamonds. He then took the ace of hearts ... and like an idiot, I followed with the three.”

Bad decision. Declarer cashed the K-Q of hearts and led dummy’s last heart. Cy had to win and lead a club, and South won the last two tricks with the ace of clubs and a diamond, making game. If Cy unblocks his 6-10-J on the high hearts, dummy has two losing spades at the end, and South fails.

At least it made a good story. DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 8 7 4 3 H A K Q 5 D A Q J C Q J. The dealer, at your right, opens one club. You double, and your partner bids one spade. What do you say?

Answer: Though you have 19 high-card points, three — the Q-J of clubs — are probably worthless. Moreover, partner’s minimum response promises no values and denies as many as nine points. Your hand is worth a raise to two spades, but a more aggressive action might earn you a minus score.