Bridge: Aug. 9, 2024

I found Cy the Cynic dug in at a far-corner table in the club lounge.

“He ordered a double,” Marvin, our barkeep, told me. “He muttered something about how Minnie got him again.”

Minnie Bottoms, my club’s senior member, wears old bifocals that make her mix up king and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay. Cy has been Minnie’s chief victim.

I got the story from Rose. In a penny game, Cy played at 3NT. He won the first heart with the queen and led the A-K and a third club. West pitched spades.

QUEEN OF CLUBS

“Minnie was in with the queen,” Rose told me. “What do you think she led?”

“A heart couldn’t be right,” I said. “If West’s hearts are K-J-10-9-x, he can’t have an entry also. I guess Minnie tried a diamond.”

“She led the KING,” Rose said, “no doubt thinking it was the jack. West unblocked his nine, won the next diamond with the ace and led a third diamond through dummy’s 8-6 to Minnie’s 10-7. Down one. But if Minnie shifts to the deuce of diamonds, Cy is safe.”

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 8 H K Q 3 D Q J C A K 8 6 4 3. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: A hand with 18 high-card points and a six-card suit would usually call for a double, then a bid of the long suit. But your diamond honors are probably three wasted points. Overcall two clubs. If all pass, dummy may be worthless, and you will struggle to win eight tricks. If you have a game, your partner may act.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A J 5

H A 7 5

D 8 6 5 4

C 7 5 2

WEST

S 10 7 6 2

H J 10 9 8 4

D A 9 3

C 9

EAST

S Q 9 4 3

H 6 2

D K 10 7 2

C Q J 10

SOUTH

S K 8

H K Q 3

D Q J

C A K 8 6 4 3

South West North East
1 C Pass 1 D Pass
2 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — H J

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