Cy the Cynic was today’s South in a penny game. When East overcalled one spade, Cy could have turned a profit by doubling for penalty. He tried for game instead and got to 3NT.

When West led a heart, East took the ace and returned the jack. Cy won and didn’t like his chances, but at Trick Three he led a diamond. If West followed low, Cy would play dummy ten. East would win, but Cy could win any return, run the diamonds and finesse with the queen of spades for an overtrick.

Alas for the Cynic, West was the player we call “Secondhand Rose.”When the lesson “second hand low”was taught, Rose must have been out with Jiggs the plumber. On the first diamond, Secondhand Rose ... with the queen!

Cy was sunk. If he played low from dummy to keep a link, Rose would cash her hearts. When instead Cy took the ace, he could win only two diamond tricks. He went down two.

“When I saw that dreaded marriage in my hand,”Cy grumbled, “I knew I was headed for the ashcan.”

Daily question: You hold: ? A Q 3 2 ? K Q ? 4 2 ? A K 10 5 3. Your partner opens one heart, you bid two clubs, he rebids two hearts and you try two spades. Partner rebids three hearts. What do you say?

Answer: If partner has 7 6, A J 1 0 8 7 6 3,A 3, Q 4, you can make six hearts; not so if he holds K 5,A J 1 0 8 7 6 3, Q5, Q4. Bid five hearts. You ask him to go on if he has a control in diamonds, the unbid suit. If he bids six diamonds next, showing the ace, you might risk seven hearts.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

Tribune Content Agency