Bridge: July 9, 2024

Cy the Cynic enjoys an active social life. He has at least three dates a week.

“You know,” Cy told me, “I’ve wanted to go out with some women, but they didn’t know I exist.”

“What about that professor of philosophy you’re seeing?” I asked.

“She doesn’t know whether I exist,” Cy said.

Cy was today’s East in a penny game, and against four hearts, West led the king, queen and a third spade. The Cynic took the ace and led a club.

LAST TRUMP

South doubted that Cy would lead a club from the king; South took the ace and ran his trumps. The last trump squeezed West, who couldn’t keep his king of clubs and the Q-7 of diamonds, and South was home.

Cy defended as if a problem didn’t exist. Cy can assume that South has the ace of clubs (from his strong bidding and because West might have cashed it at Trick Three if he had it). If West has the king of clubs, he may be threatened with a squeeze, but Cy can and should break it up by leading a diamond at the fourth trick.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K Q 5 H 10 3 2 D Q 7 6 2 C K 9 5. Your partner opens one heart, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have 10 high-card points — too many according to the textbooks for a single raise. Still, your trump support is weak, your distribution is flat and you have no aces. I would bid two hearts with no misgivings. Nothing is wrong with having a bit of extra strength occasionally; sometimes your partner will appreciate it.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S J 10 8

H 8

D A J 9 8 3

C Q 6 4 2

WEST

S K Q 5

H 10 3 2

D Q 7 6 2

C K 9 5

EAST

S A 7 3 2

H 9 5

D 10 5 4

C J 8 7 3

SOUTH

S 9 6 4

H A K Q J 7 6 4

D K

C A 10

South West North East
1 H Pass 1 NT Pass
4 H All Pass
Opening lead — S K

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