Cy the Cynic says that if you think patience is a virtue, you should have to surf without high-speed internet.
Cy is hardly qualified to talk about patience: He is apt to seize on the first line of play or defense he sees. When Cy was today’s East, North-South got to four spades after they each bid clubs. West led the ten of hearts: six, ace, king.
Cy was sure South had four clubs to jump to three clubs — and West had none. So at the second trick, Cy led a club.
NO MORE TRUMPS
West ruffed and led another heart, but declarer ruffed and led a trump. The Cynic won and led another club, but when West couldn’t ruff, South won the rest, drawing trumps and finessing in diamonds. Making four.
Cy was impatient; he neglected to count defensive tricks. Since West surely has two trumps on the bidding, his ruff can wait. Cy must lead the ten of diamonds at Trick Two. South wins and leads a trump, but Cy grabs his ace, gives West a club ruff and ruffs the diamond return for down one.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A 9 7 H A Q 5 2 D 10 C 10 8 7 4 3. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids one spade and you try 1NT. Partner next bids two spades. What do you say?
ANSWER: Partner has five spades and at least six diamonds. With 5-5 in those suits, he would have opened one spade. Since he did not jump to two spades at his second turn, his high-card strength is limited. Still, your spade support and side ace merit a raise to four spades.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S J 6 3
H J 7 6
D A Q 9
C K Q 9 6
WEST
S 4 2
H 10 9 8 4 3
D K 8 6 5 3 2
C None
EAST
S A 9 7
H A Q 5 2
D 10
C 10 8 7 4 3
SOUTH
S K Q 10 8 5
H K
D J 7 4
C A J 5 2
North East South West
1 C Pass 1 S Pass
1 NT Pass 3 C Pass
3 S Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — H 10
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