DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Cy the Cynic says that he doesn’t understand why people look for trouble — when it’s often right behind them and gaining ground.

In today’s deal, West’s conventional “Michaels” cue bid of two spades promised length in hearts and a minor suit. Against four spades, West led the king of diamonds, and South took the ace and saw no problem: He led a trump next.

Alas, trouble overtook declarer when West threw a diamond. East captured dummy’s jack with the queen and, with a choice of winning defenses, led another diamond. South ruffed, took the ace of hearts, ruffed a heart, ruffed a diamond and ruffed another heart.

East overruffed with the ten and cashed the ace, leaving dummy with only one trump, so South had a heart to lose. Down one.

South begged for trouble when he led a trump. Since he has no side- suit losers, he can afford three in trumps. At Trick Two, South should start a crossruff. No matter how East defends, South loses only three trump tricks. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠9 8 7 6 3 ♥A Q 5 4 2 ♦ A ♣ A 3. South in today’s deal opened one spade with this hand. Do you agree with that action?

ANSWER: South’s call was correct even though his spades were ragged. With two five- card suits, to bid the higher- ranking first is generally correct without regard to quality. You could make an exception in an extreme case and open one heart with 6 5 4 3 2,A K Q J 10, A, 3 2, treating the spades as a fourcard suit and the hearts as a six- bagger. South dealer Both sides vulnerable