Bridge: July 4, 2024

“Refrigerators should have glass doors,” Cy the Cynic told me. “Then I wouldn’t have to stand there planning my next move with the door open, letting the cold air out.”

Cy isn’t great at planning as declarer: He tends to adopt the first line of play he sees. At 3NT, Cy ducked West’s king of spades and won the next spade as East threw a heart. Cy next led a diamond to dummy’s jack.

East took the queen and led a heart. The Cynic won in dummy and took the A-K of diamonds, hoping for a 3-3 break, but when West showed out, Cy won only eight tricks.

EXTRA CHANCE

Cy’s 3NT was as cold as an icebox. At Trick Three Cy gets an extra chance by leading a club to dummy’s nine. East wins and leads a heart, and Cy wins in dummy, cashes the ace of clubs, returns a heart to his hand and takes the king of clubs. When West’s queen falls, Cy has three clubs, three hearts, two diamonds and a spade.

If the clubs didn’t lie well, Cy could finesse in diamonds and get home with good luck there, or he might well end-play East in diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 8 6 3 2 H A Q 6 D A K J 2 C A 9. The dealer, at your right, opens one club. You double, and your partner responds (“advances”) one heart. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner could have nothing — or as many as nine points. Game is possible. You shouldn’t raise the hearts with only three-card support. Bid 1NT, showing 18 or 19 points. Your double promised support for the other suits, so partner can suggest a different contract.

South dealer

E-W vulnerable

NORTH

S 8 6 3 2

H A Q 6

D A K J 2

C A 9

WEST

S K Q J 9 4

H J 5 4 2

D 8

C Q 5 3

EAST

S 5

H 10 8 7

D Q 10 9 7 3

C J 8 7 4

SOUTH

S A 10 7

H K 9 3

D 6 5 4

C K 10 6 2

South West North East
Pass Pass 1 D Pass
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S K

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