Bridge: April 12, 2023

Cy the Cynic says that the things that come to those who wait are often what’s left behind by those who arrived early. But Cy knows that there are plenty of good reasons to delay drawing trumps.

Cy was today’s South in a penny game at my club. North’s five-spade response to Cy’s “Keycard Blackwood” bid of 4NT showed two aces plus the queen of trumps, so Cy confidently bid a grand slam.

West led the queen of diamonds, and Cy took the ace and cashed the A-K of trumps. When both defenders followed, Cy saw no problem — unless the missing clubs broke 4-0. So Cy didn’t draw the last trump; he led a club to dummy’s ace.

LAST HEART

When West discarded, the Cynic mentally patted himself on the back. He continued with a club to his king and the A-K of hearts, pitching a club from dummy. He ruffed his last heart, came to his queen of clubs and ruffed a club in dummy.

Cy then ruffed a diamond, drew the missing trump and won the 13th trick with his good club. Well done, Cy.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A K 10 7 H A K 7 D 6 C K Q 6 5 2. You open one club, and your partner bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your hand is worth at least 20 points, enough to bid four spades, not as a “shutout” but as strength-showing. A raise to four spades would suggest balanced pattern. Bid two hearts (a “reverse”), then four spades next; or jump to four diamonds as a “splinter” to show a spade fit and diamond shortness.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S Q J 4 3

H 10

D A 10 5 2

C A 8 7 3

WEST

S 9 5

H 9 8 6 5 3

D Q J 9 8 4 3

C None

EAST

S 8 6 2

H Q J 4 2

D K 7

C J 10 9 4

SOUTH

S A K 10 7

H A K 7

D 6

C K Q 6 5 2

North East South West
1 D Pass 2 C Pass
3 C Pass 3 S Pass
4 S Pass 4 NT Pass
5 S Pass 7 S All Pass
Opening lead — D Q

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.