“My high-school teachers said I would never be successful because I procrastinate,” Cy the Cynic told me.
“I don’t know why they would say that,” I said, knowing Cy is the world’s worst putter-offer.
“I told them, ‘Just you wait,’” Cy said.
Cy’s procrastination often serves him well — when he waits to draw trumps. In a team match Cy was declarer at four hearts, and West led the queen of spades. Cy won and did not lead a trump: He started a crossruff: ace of diamonds, diamond ruff, spade ruff, A-K of clubs, club ruff, diamond ruff.
EIGHTH TRICK
East overruffed with the ten and led another spade, but Cy ruffed for his eighth trick and ruffed another diamond. East overruffed queen and took the ace, but Cy still had one trump in each hand. Making four.
In the replay, South led a trump at Trick Two, and East won with the ten. Later, East was able to overruff dummy on a diamond lead and take his ace of trumps, leaving declarer a trick short.
This week: trump management.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A H 9 8 7 4 2 D A J 7 6 3 C A 7. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. What do you say?
ANSWER: Since neither opponent has bid spades, partner may have a few; hence not many hearts. If he has 876,A,KQ1082,KJ64, you have a grand slam. Jump to three diamonds if it’s forcing. If not, or if you’re not sure, bid six diamonds. A possible action is a “splinter” bid of three spades, showing spade shortness and slam interest.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 7 5 2
H K J 6 5 3
D Q
C K J 5 2
WEST
S Q J 9 4 3
H None
D K 10 9 4 2
C 10 8 4
EAST
S K 10 8 6
H A Q 10
D 8 5
C Q 9 6 3
SOUTH
S A
H 9 8 7 4 2
D A J 7 6 3
C A 7
South West North East
1 H 1 S 4 H All Pass
Opening lead — S Q
©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Originally Published: