Cy the Cynic says you can show...

Cy the Cynic says you can show him a good loser and he’ll show you a man playing bridge against his boss. But when you’re declarer, some losers aren’t all bad.

South took the ace of hearts and led the king of trumps; and East took the ace and led a club to West’s ace. West then led the jack of hearts; and when South put up dummy’s king, East ruffed.

South ruffed the club return, but since he lacked enough dummy entries to set up and cash the hearts, he had to try the diamond finesse. The king didn’t like him: down one.

Used to It

They say you should win as if you’re used to it and lose as if you enjoy it for a change. But South can be a winner here if he’s a good loser: On the second heart, he must play low from dummy. Since the black aces are his only fast losers, he can afford to lose a heart.

If West shifts to a diamond, South takes the ace and ruffs a heart, setting up the hearts. He draws trumps with dummy’s eight and runs the hearts to pitch his diamonds.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

8 3 2

(Heart) K 9 7 5 4 2

* A J

9 4

*--*

WEST EAST 7 A 6 (Heart) Q J 10 8 (Heart) 6 8 7 3 K 10 9 6 2 A J 8 6 3 Q 10 7 5 2

*--*

SOUTH

K Q J 10 9 5 4

(Heart) A 3

* Q 5 4

K

*--*

 SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST  1 Pass 2 Pass 4 All Pass

*--*

Opening lead-- (Heart) Q

Question of the Day

You hold: A 6 (Heart) 6 * K 10 9 6 2 Q 10 7 5 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond 1NT and he raises to 2NT. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: Since you have maximum values for your 1NT, you must accept partner’s invitation to game. With an expert partner, you might get fancy and bid three spades. Since you can’t have a spade suit, he’d interpret that bid as showing length in both minors. But with most partners, just bid 3NT.

2001, Tribune Media Services