DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Cy the Cynic says that if one door opens when another closes ... your house may be haunted.

As today’s declarer, Cy took the king of hearts and led a diamond to dummy’s jack; he would win four diamond tricks if West held K- x. The finesse won, but when Cy took the ace next, East discarded. Dummy then led a club, but when East won and set up his hearts, Cy could take only eight tricks.

Cy had the “diamonds” door slammed in his face but could still make 3NT. He should win the first heart with the ace and cash the ace, king and queen of spades. Another door opens — spades break 3- 3 — so the Cynic needs only three diamond tricks to make game. He is safe if diamonds break 3- 2, but his best play is to lead the queen.

When West covers and East’s nine falls under the ace, Cy can return a diamond to his seven and later use dummy’s J- 6 to finesse against West. This play loses if a defender has the singleton king but wins when East has the singleton eight, nine or ten. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠J 9 6 ♥ QJ 8 7 4 ♦ 9 ♣A K 9 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: This is a close call. If you judge to force to game, bid four clubs or try a “fourth suit” bid of two spades, merely asking partner to make another descriptive bid. In my judgment, the hand is worth only a game invitation. I would settle for a raise to three clubs. I certainly would not bid four clubs and bypass 3NT. North dealer N- S vulnerable