Kridge >> Ky Frank Stewart

“When I tabled the dummy,” Cy the Cynic said to me, “I told the man, ‘Just make four.’ A lot of good that did.”

Cy was North in a penny game. South was Joe Overberry, who thinks it’s nobler to go down trying for overtricks than to make his bid. That costs him — and his partners — tons of points.

When West led the queen of diamonds against four hearts, Joe beamed. He won with the king, drew trumps and let the nine of diamonds ride, expecting four diamond tricks and a spade discard. Instead, East produced the jack, and the defense took the ace of spades and A-K of clubs. Down one.

FAULT

“It was my fault,” Cy said. “I should’ve bid 3NT. Next time I’ll try harder to be declarer.”

After Joe draws trumps, he should lead a spade. Dummy’s king will furnish a discard for his third diamond; he loses a spade and two clubs. If East had the ace of spades, Joe could try to set up a club winner in dummy for a diamond discard. Failing that, he would play West for the jack of diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A6542 ♥ 963 Q6 ♣ K 7 3. Your partner opens ♦ one club, you respond one spade, he bids two diamonds and you return to three clubs. Partner then rebids three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner “reversed” and rebid his second suit. He has extra high-card strength, five diamonds and longer clubs. Since you have three useful honors, slam is likely. Bid three spades to show your ace. He may hold 7, A, A K 9 7 3, AQ10642.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable