BRIDGE

If the only way to charge our cellphones were to hook them up to a stationary bicycle, we might be the f ittest society ever. Some bridge players think the way to succeed as declarer is to try lots of finesses.

Against today’s four spades, West led a low club: four, jack, ace. South led a trump to the ace and f inessed with his jack, losing. He would have survived if West had continued with the queen and a third club, but West shifted to a heart.

Declarer took dummy’s ace and let the queen of diamonds ride. That f inesse won, but he still lost a club, two hearts and a trump.

I would have to question South’s f itness as declarer.

Finesses might have let him avoid trump and diamond losers, but he needed 10 winners. After South wins the first trick, he should take the K- A of trumps.

South next leads the A- K of diamonds, overtaking with the jack. East wins, and the defense cashes a club, but South can win a heart shift and pitch two hearts on dummy’s high diamonds.

Question: You hold: ♠ 7 2 ♥ K J 9 3 ♦ K 7 5 3 ♣ K J 3. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two diamonds, he bids two hearts and you raise to three hearts. Partner then bids four clubs. What do you say?

Answer: Partner’s four clubs is an ace- showing cue bid to suggest slam. If you held 7 2, K 10 9 3, A 7 5 3, K J 3, you would cue- bid four diamonds in reply. As it is, your king of diamonds may be wasted opposite partner’s singleton. Sign off at four hearts. South dealer N- S vulnerable