“They say a woman’s work is never done,” Wendy, my club’s resident feminist, grumbled to me. “When I try to defend with Cy, it’s a constant trial.”
Cy the Cynic, a chauvinist, and Wendy are adversaries even when they cut as partners in a penny game.
In today’s deal, Cy had opened in spades, so Wendy, West, led the deuce against 3NT. Cy took the ace and returned the ten: jack, king, eight. Wendy then led her last spade, and South won, took the ace of diamonds and raced off six club tricks. At the end, Cy had to come down to the ace of hearts and Q-7 of diamonds, and South greedily exited with a heart to end-play him. Making four.
LAST WORD
“A man’s word is never done,” Wendy said sourly, “and Cy had to have the last word, of course. He said I beat 3NT if I shift to the jack of hearts at the third trick. The man’s a nutcase.”
Cy must cash the king of hearts at Trick Two, then lead a spade. When Wendy wins, she will have no trouble leading the jack of hearts next.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 8 3 H Q 7 5 2 D K J 10 6 4 C A 10. Your partner opens one club. The next player jumps to two spades (preemptive), you double and partner bids three hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your negative double promised heart length, plus diamond length or club tolerance, and enough strength to compete to at least the three level. Partner’s three hearts “raised” the suit you showed. His hand may be minimum; he could have bid four hearts but didn’t. Pass.
East dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S 8 3
H Q 7 5 2
D K J 10 6 4
C A 10
WEST
S K 7 2
H J 8 6 4
D 8 5 2
C 6 5 2
EAST
S A 10 9 6 4
H A K 9
D Q 7 3
C 8 4
SOUTH
S Q J 5
H 10 3
D A 9
C K Q J 9 7 3
East South West North
1 S 2 C Pass 2 D
Pass 2 NT Pass 3 NT
All Pass
Opening lead — S 2
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