Bridge: April 10, 2024

“You’re out of shape,” I told Cy the Cynic. “You should exercise. Do some crunches.”

“I do them every day,” Cy said. “Captain in the morning, Nestle in the evening.”

As South in a penny game, Cy speculated by bidding a grand slam. (He would not have risked seven at matchpoints.) He won West’s diamond lead with the jack, considered briefly … and led a club to dummy’s queen! Down one.

“If you’re willing to crunch some numbers,” I observed, “you might find a better percentage play.”

“My play saved wear and tear on the brain,” the Cynic said.

CLUB RUFFS

Cy could manage a dummy reversal: He leads a club to the ace at Trick Two, ruffs a club, goes to the ace of diamonds and ruffs a club. Next (maybe) come the K-A of trumps and another club ruff. Cy can then go to the king of spades, draw the missing trump with the queen and win the last three tricks with the ace of spades and high diamonds.

Is that line better than Cy’s simple finesse? You can crunch the numbers.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 6 5 H K 10 9 5 2 D K J 9 4 C 7. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two hearts, he bids three clubs and you go to three spades. Partner then bids four clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s three clubs was a “high reverse” showing extra high-card strength. His four clubs suggests 10 or more cards in the black suits and slam interest. If you had a red ace, you would gladly cue-bid it. As it is, sign off at four spades.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S K 4 2

H A Q 6

D A Q 7

C A Q 8 4

WEST

S J 9 8 7 3

H 8 3

D 8 6 3

C 10 6 5

EAST

S Q 10

H J 7 4

D 10 5 2

C K J 9 3 2

SOUTH

S A 6 5

H K 10 9 5 2

D K J 9 4

C 7

North East South West
2 NT Pass 3 H Pass
4 H Pass 4 S Pass
6 H Pass 7 H(!) All Pass
Opening lead — D 8

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