Cy the Cynic says that if you’re riding a horse full speed while being chased by a lion, and there is a giraffe right next to you ... get off the carousel!

When you have an impending loser, do something about it. Maybe you can discard your loser on a winner.

In today’s deal, West led the jack of diamonds against six hearts (not a winning lead, but most Wests would have done the same). East took the ace and shifted to the king of clubs, and declarer won and had to do something to avoid a club loser.

Looking to set up a long spade in dummy, South took the A-K, pitching a club, and ruffed a spade. He next took the queen and ace of trumps. When East discarded, South ruffed another spade, but West overruffed and led a club to East’s queen. Down two.

South mistimed. He must cash only the ace of spades, then ruff a spade, take the Q-A of trumps and ruff a spade. He draws the missing trump with dummy’s king and discards two clubs on the king and the fifth spade.

Daily question >> You hold: ? A K 7 4 3 ? A K 2 ? 9 5 ? 10 6 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you bid one spade and he rebids two diamonds. What do you say?

Answer >> You may belong at 3NT. Partner could have 6,J65,AQJ862,KQ2. But if he has no club strength, you must find a different game. Bid two hearts. If partner rebids three diamonds or bids three hearts, you will avoid notrump. If he bids 2NT, raise to 3NT. If he bids two spades, bid four spades.

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