BRIDGE

LOOKING FOR A CURE

“Do you know much Greek mythology?” Cy the Cynic asked me.

“A little,” I admitted.

“There was a guy named Chiron who was half-man, half-horse,” Cy said. “And he was a physician.”

“A doctor?”

“Really, more than that,” Cy said. “He was the Centaur for Disease Control.” A common malady among declarers is hasty play to Trick One. In today’s deal, West led a low heart against four spades. (Since North showed a weak hand, such an aggressive lead was uncalled for.) South, happy with a free finesse, promptly put up dummy’s queen.

Third Trump

South next took the A-K of trumps. When East discarded, South cashed his ace of hearts and led a third trump. West won and exited with a diamond, and South eventually lost a diamond and two clubs. Down one. Doubledummy play would succeed.)

South’s best chance is to win the first heart with the ace. He takes his top trumps and leads his low heart. As the cards lie, all West can do is take the king and cash his high trump and ace of clubs to stop an overtrick. Daily Question

You hold: ♠ Q 10 8 ♥ K 87 5 ♦ J 43 ♣ A 6 3. Your partner opens one spade, and the next player passes. What do you say? Answer: This hand has 10 highcard points, but the distribution is as flat as can be, and the value of the jack of diamonds (and the king of hearts) is uncertain. Raise to two spades. In my judgment, the hand is not worth a stronger, game-invitational sequence. Nothing is wrong with having a bit extra on occasion.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable