Cause of Death
I found Cy the Cynic at a corner table in the club lounge, writing an alimony check. Cy says that love is a quest, marriage is a conquest. Divorce? It’s the inquest.
There was an inquest after today’s deal — into the contract’s cause of death. As declarer at 6♠, Cy won the trump opening lead with the ace, unblocked his ♥K, led a trump to dummy and ruffed a heart high. He drew West’s last trump and took the ♥A. West discarded, so the Cynic conceded the fourth heart. When East led a club, Cy had to finesse. He went down when West had the king.
You’re the coroner. What is your verdict?
| Dlr: South | ♠ Q J 7 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vul: E-W | ♥ A 8 6 5 4 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ J 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ 10 9 5 | ♠ 8 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♥ 10 9 | ♥ Q J 7 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ K J 10 6 3 | ♦ Q 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♣ K 10 8 | ♣ 9 7 4 3 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♠ A K 4 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ K | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A 9 8 7 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A Q 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Opening lead — ♠10 Extra EntryCy needed an extra entry to dummy to set up the hearts safely. At trick three he leads the ♣Q. If West wins and leads a second trump, Cy wins in dummy, ruffs a heart, goes to the jack of clubs and ruffs a heart. The Cynic can then take the ♦A, ruff a diamond, draw the missing trump and win the rest with good hearts and a trump. Daily Question
You hold:
ANSWER
Much depends on your partner’s style. If he sticks to textbook preempts and will have a heart suit such as A-Q-J-10-x-x-x, you can bid 6♥ (after first bidding 4NT, Blackwood). But if partner is a modern obstructionist and indulges in light, undisciplined preempts, better settle for 4♥.
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