Bridge: Oct. 2, 2023
“You know what annoys me?” Cy the Cynic said to me in the club lounge.
“Aside from Wendy?” I asked mildly.
“People accuse me of lolly-gagging,” said Cy, “when what I’m really doing is dilly-dallying.”
When I watched a penny game, Cy played at 3NT, and West led a diamond. Dummy’s jack won. Cy next led a spade: jack, queen, ace. West returned a spade to Cy’s king.
Cy then disappeared into a long huddle.
“Pussy-footing won’t help you,” North finally sighed.
“I’m thinking,” Cy growled.
DOWN TWO
Cy cashed the A-K of clubs and exited with a spade. East took two spades and led a heart, and Cy went down two when West had the king.
“Which one were you doing then?” I asked the Cynic.
After the first trick, not much could help Cy. (He could guess to play West for A-x in spades.) Cy should win the first diamond with the ace. He unblocks the A-K of clubs and leads a low diamond. He can reach dummy with the ten to take the Q-J of clubs and end with nine tricks.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A 3 H K 10 5 D Q 8 7 5 4 C 9 7 4. Your partner opens one spade, you respond 1NT, he bids two hearts and you return to two spades. Partner next bids three diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your hand is golden. All three honors are working. Partner has extra strength to bid a third time, and if his hand is short in clubs, your hands fit together perfectly. I would be tempted to bid six diamonds. Partner may hold KQ654,AQ64,KJ93,None.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 6 4 2
H 7 4 3
D J 10 9
C Q J 8 5
WEST
S A 3
H K 10 5
D Q 8 7 5 4
C 9 7 4
EAST
S J 10 9 8
H J 9 8 6
D 2
C 10 6 3 2
SOUTH
S K Q 7 5
H A Q 2
D A K 6 3
C A K
South West North East
2 C Pass 2 D Pass
3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — D 5
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