FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

LAZY PLAY

“Do you think Cy will ever take another job?” I asked Rose in the club lounge. “Cy will get up and go to work?” she said. “His chances of winning the lottery are better.”

Cy the Cynic is a lazybones. As declarer, he jumps on the first line of play he sees. At today’s four hearts, Cy drew trumps and led the A-K and a third club. East won and led the jack of spades, and the defense took three spades for down one.

“Did you even think about a different play?” North asked with asperity.

“I save wear and tear on my brain,” the Cynic replied.

Top Clubs

Cy’s play was worse than lazy. He can win the first trump in dummy and try a diamond finesse with his jack. West wins and leads a second trump, and Cy wins, cashes the king of diamonds, takes the top clubs, discards his last club on the ace of diamonds and ruffs a club. When East-West follow, Cy draws trumps in dummy and takes the good club for his 10th trick. If clubs didn’t break well, Cy could try for a spade trick.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ A Q 5 ♥ 6 3 ♦ Q 10 8 6 2 ♣ 10 8 5. Your partner opens one heart, you respond 1NT and he bids two spades. What do you say?

Answer: Partner has “reversed” the usual order of showing two long suits (higher-ranking first) and has a strong hand — in some styles, strong enough for game. You must not pass; his bid is forcing. Bid three diamonds or raise to three spades. Partner won’t expect four-card spade support since you didn’t respond one spade.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable