Cy the Cynic says if a 50 percent of rain is forecast, the weatherman has no idea if it will rain or not. Finesses may be 50-50 propositions, but a finesse may not gain even if it wins.

Today’s North leaped gaily to a slam. He thought South would have a five-card heart suit, and North had a useful queen of clubs and the ace of spades. He also knew from East-West’s bidding that South’s hand was short in diamonds.

When West led a high diamond, South ruffed and led a trump to dummy’s ace and a trump to his jack, losing the finesse. He ruffed the next diamond, drew the missing trump and ran the clubs. At the end, he tried a spade to dummy’s queen, but East’s king won.

South’s trump finesse was wrong; he must take the A-K. Then he runs the clubs and can pitch four spades from dummy and ruff a spade in dummy.

A spade opening lead beats six hearts. East might have found a “Lightner” double of the slam, asking West for the unusual lead of the first suit dummy bid.

Daily question: You hold: ? A Q 10 9 5 ? A 4 3 ? 10 5 3 ? Q 9. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

Answer: Partner’s hand is undefined; he could have 12 to 18 points with various patterns. If you judge to settle for a game-invitational action, bid three diamonds (assuming a jump-preference in opener’s minor is invitational). To force to game, bid three diamonds (if forcing) or bid a “fourth-suit” two hearts.

South dealer

Neither side vulnerable

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