I found Wendy, my club’s feminist, and Cy the Cynic arguing again, this time about predominance in the home.

“A man is the head of his household,” Cy said.

“A woman is the neck,” Wendy sniffed, “and can turn him in any direction she wants.”

Cy had a chance to assert male dominance as today’s declarer. Against four spades, West led a trump. Cy won with the jack, pondered and led the queen of hearts. When West played low, the Cynic ... overtook with dummy’s king.

East took the ace and led a diamond. Cy won, led a trump to dummy’s king and returned the ten of hearts, discarding a diamond. West took the jack, and the defense cashed a diamond, but Cy ruffed the next diamond with the ace of trumps, went to the queen of trumps and threw two clubs on the 9-8 of hearts. Making four.

“If I lead the queen of hearts and play low from dummy,” Cy told Wendy, “East beats the contract by ducking. It takes a man — overtaking the queen with the king — to get the job done.”

Daily question: You hold: ? A J 8 7 4 3 ? Q ? A 9 5 ? A 6 5. The dealer, at your right, opens one club. You overcall one spade, and your partner bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: Partnership agreement in this situation varies. Some would treat partner’s “advance” to two hearts as constructive and forcing; others would treat it as discouraging and not forcing. In any case, your hand has too much promise to pass. Bid two spades or 2NT.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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