DAILY CROSSWORD
ACROSS
Not fatty Polynesian carving Ebenezer’s partner Marley Luxury hotel name Word before rock or rain Run off to wed *Cafeteria queue Chickens (out) Dr. Mark Sloan portrayer in “Grey’s Anatomy” Flower holder Harsh treatment Rio Grande city Buckeye State Vane heading From scratch Drums held between the knees
How wet hair hangs Australian hub, in itineraries 39 *Nonglitzy local
tavern
41 Quattro meno uno 44 Part of a mug
shot profile 46 “I’ll handle it” 48 Like early-morning golf greens 50 Self-important
type
52 “Lovely” musical
meter maid 53 Maven
55 Unwrap with
gusto
58 Rank above maj. 59 Device used to record aerie hatchlings “Better late than never,” e.g. Takeover endeavor ... and a hint to what can precede each word in the answers to starred clues 68 Desert drifts 69 Taiwanese PC
giant
70 Word game piece 1 5 9 14 15 16 17 19 20 22 23 26 28 29 32 33 36 38 62 64 71 Lauder of makeup 72 Lays down a lawn 73 Worry obsessively
DOWN
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 21 23 24 25 Bit of cybermirth Earthbound bird Gothic novelist Radcliffe Words to pacify a pooch Shire of “Rocky” Christmas eave decoration Bighearted Think tank nugget Tiara sparkler “Aladdin” prince *Corporate retreat with team-building activities
Try to block Give Charlemagne’s realm: Abbr. Doubles partner who’s not serving Steals from Crow’s-nest call *Basil sitting on a sill, e.g.
DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:
A reader says he and his partner argued after today’s tumultuous deal. When North opened two clubs, East boosted the bidding to the five level.
“I couldn’t act over that,” my reader writes, “but when my partner doubled, I bid five spades. He bid six.
“I won West’s heart lead with the king and led a trump. When East discarded, I couldn’t ruff my fourth heart in dummy without losing a trump to West’s jack, so I went after the diamonds: A-K and a diamond ruff. West overruffed, and I also lost a heart.”
“I think North should pass five spades. He insists he was justified in going on because I wouldn’t have bid five unless I expected to make it.” 27 Sidekick
30 Final Olds made 31 Bro or sis 34 Laudatory lines 35 Sonora snooze 37 Supporting 40 Delivery vehicle 42 Memorization method 43 Israeli diplomat Abba 45 Emmy-winning scientist Bill Gives a cue Ten-year period 47 48
I understand North’s bid. In fact, the bidding was fine since six spades was cold. After South takes one high trump, he can lead dummy’s queen of clubs and pitch a diamond! South ruffs the next club, takes the ace of diamonds, ruffs a diamond and draws trumps. He ruffs a diamond and returns to dummy for the two good diamonds.
DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ AKQ ♥ A62 ◆ A K762 ♣ Q 10. You open two clubs, your partner responds two diamonds, you bid 2NT and he bids 4NT. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your first two bids showed balanced pattern with 23 or 24 points, or a good-looking 22. Partner’s 4NT is not ace-asking but a 49 Book after Genesis 51 Prepared, as coffee
54 Maker of tasty “pieces” 56 Cupcake finishers 57 Achievement for a duffer 60 Transcript nos. 61 Bonkers
63 “That’s surprising” 65 Beyond tipsy 66 Many a microbrew Archery wood 67 “quantitative” try for slam, just as a raise of a 1NT opening to 2NT would invite game. Since your values are minimum, pass.