BOGGLE BRAINBUSTERS
To start the week, try a defensive problem. Cover the East and South cards and defend as West. North’s hand was too strong to open 1NT. When South raised to two clubs, North probed with two hearts. South showed a maximum 1NT response with the other suits stopped.
You lead the five of diamonds: ace, deuce, seven.
At Trick Two, dummy leads a spade: ten from East, king … How do you defend?
To duck isn’t safe. South has the queen of diamonds, both from the bidding and from East’s discouraging signal.
If he has five clubs and the queen of spades, he will have nine tricks.
SHIFT
South’s weak spot is probably hearts, so a heart shift is indicated, but you must take care to lead the nine. Dummy’s ten covers, and East wins with the jack and returns the three to your king. Then your deuce goes through dummy’s queen-six to East’s ace-eight.
To lead the deuce first won’t do; the suit will be blocked, and you can’t get all four heart tricks. Did you beat the contract?
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: 8 7 3 Q 10 6 4 A K 4 A K Q. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. You double, and your partner responds (“advances”) two hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: This particular auction is awkward; you lack room to investigate for game.
Since partner’s bid promises nothing, and you have three spade losers and only fair hearts, to pass might be a winning call. Still, game is possible; he might hold 42,KJ873,Q87,876. Bid three hearts.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
Find as many words as you can by linking letters up, down, side-to-side and diagonally, writing words on a blank sheet of paper. You may only use each letter box once within a single word. Play with a friend and compare word finds, crossing out common words.
RB OELooking for something to do on Mother’s Day weekend? Flowers, performers, food and more will be coming to the annual Wilmington Flower Market. The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 9 and May 10, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 11. During the three days, the market plans to bring plenty of entertainment to Rockford Park in Wilmington.
The event was founded in 1921 by Mary Chichester du Pont and is one of the biggest annual fundraisers in Wilmington. The flower market aims to raise money for Delaware charities that support youth, with past beneficiaries like the Exceptional Care for Children, Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s and the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware.
Performers include recently eliminated “The Voice” contestant Olivia Rubini on May 10; a reptile show on May 9; and over 20 others. The entire lineup can be found on the Wilmington Flower Market’s Facebook page.
Food will be available at the flower market. Eats from Chick-Fil-A, El Toro Cantina, Uncle John’s BBQ Stand and others will be offered. Desserts also will be served: water ice from Fusco’s, mini donuts and coffee from DonutNV, ice cream from Hy-Point Dairy and more. Alongside food, a beer garden will be at this year’s event.
Retail shops and small businesses will be set up, with jewelry, handmade birdhouses, face painting and pottery and more. Rides also will be available.
No worries, plenty of flowers will be there too, with a garden gallery.
The free event is rain or shine, and guests are allowed to use umbrellas if needed. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on leashes and are picked up after. Parking for the market is $10 per day cash only, with a multiday option available. At tents, payment methods allowed include cash, credit or debit cards, and vendors may have other options.
Although vendor spots are full, volunteers are still needed. Information can be found at wilmingtonflower market.org/volunteer-1.