DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

It was the first of another month, and I found Cy the Cynic in the club lounge, writing an alimony check: what he sourly calls his “pay-after-you-go” plan.

At least Cy doesn’t have to pay alimony daily. He does have to pay after the club’s penny game. As today’s declarer at 3NT, Cy could have been plus 690 points but ended minus 200. He won the first spade in dummy and led the A-K and a low diamond.

A 3-3 break would have given Cy nine tricks, but West discarded. The Cynic won East’s spade return and tried a club to dummy’s jack. East took the queen, the defense cashed out for down two and Cy had to pay off.

To attack the diamonds might have been right, but Cy gets an extra chance by cashing the ace of hearts.

If East-West played low, Cy would lead diamonds. But when East’s king of hearts falls, Cy can lead a heart to dummy’s eight and continue with the jack, winning five hearts, two spades, two diamonds, two clubs and a 12th trick with a squeeze.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: A3 A3 K 10 843 K 8 5 2. You open one diamond, your partner responds one spade, you bid two clubs and he jumps to three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: If your partner’s jump-preference is forcing, bid 3NT. He need not pass if his hand is highly distributional. If, as in the style of many partnerships, partner’s three diamonds is invitational, you have a close decision.