DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

“I found a way to deal with Minnie and her glasses,” Cy the Cynic told me. “She’s playing on my team!”

Minnie Bottoms wears old bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay. Cy has been Minnie’s chief victim.

Cy admitted that he misplayed today’s slam in a team match. West led a trump ( not best), and Cy drew trumps and took the A- K of hearts. When East showed out, the Cynic had no chance.

“West led a trump at the other table,” Cy said. “There, South drew trumps and ducked a heart, so he had an extra entry to set up the hearts if they broke 4- 1.

“Minnie was East. When she took the 10 of hearts, she shifted to the KING of diamonds, no doubt thinking it was the jack, and down declarer went.”

The slam was cold. South takes the ace of hearts at Trick Two, draws trumps and leads a second heart. If West plays low, dummy plays the nine. If instead West plays an honor, South takes the ace and returns the nine, pitching a minor- suit loser.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ 7 3 ♥ A K 9 8 4 3

◆ A 6 ♣ 10 4 2. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one club. You bid one heart, and your partner cue- bids two clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s two clubs suggests heart support and a good hand. Your action now depends on your overcalling style. In mine, overcalls generally show opening values or more, so I would just bid two hearts. Many players would overcall with fewer values and would bid more.