DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Cy the Cynic observes that when you “buy now, pay later,” it’s amazing how fast later arrives.

When I watched today’s deal in a penny game at my club, Cy was East, defending against 3NT. West led the eight of spades in response to Cy’s overcall, and declarer played dummy’s king. Cy happily took his ace, queen and jack, but South’s ten won the next spade.

South then led a heart to dummy and returned the queen of clubs to finesse. West’s king won the defenders’ last trick, and South made his vulnerable game.

First Trick: Cy had no trouble buying the first trick — but he had to pay later. South surely has 10-9-x-x for his bid of 1NT, so Cy can’t immediately run the spades. Moreover, Cy must assume that West can win a trick, otherwise the contract is cold.

On the first spade, Cy must signal with his seven, keeping communication. When West gets in with king of clubs, he leads his last spade, and Cy takes four spades for down one.

This week: entries on defense.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ 10 9 6 5 ♥ Q84

♦ K 6 3 ♣ A 8 4. Your partner opens one heart, you raise to two hearts and he next bids four diamonds. What do you say?

Answer: If partner was content to play at four hearts, he would have bid it. His four diamonds commits to game and shows interest in bigger things. He has a strong two-suiter. Since you have three working honors, slam is probable. Cue-bid five clubs. Partner will hold at least A, A K 1075,AJ1074,K7.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable