Since Wendy, my club’s feminist, arrived, she and Cy the Cynic have had only one argument — lasting about five years. Wendy says men are like commercials; you can’t believe a word they say. Cy maintains that it’s possible to understand women if you know how — but nobody knows how.
The two were today’s East-West in a penny game, and Wendy led a heart against 3NT. Dummy played the ten, and Cy took the jack and king. Wendy followed with the nine. The Cynic next led the nine of clubs. South won, lost a diamond finesse and had nine tricks.
SPADE ENTRY
“Thank you, partner,” Wendy growled. “My nine of hearts was suit preference, suggesting an entry in spades, the high-ranking suit.”
“I think Cy sometimes has a mental block,” I told Wendy in the lounge later.
“The man has a chauvinist’s block,” Wendy sniffed. “He won’t send a woman to get a job done.”
To beat 3NT, Cy leads the queen of spades at Trick Three. A low spade won’t do. Cy can create an entry to Wendy’s hearts.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S K 8 5 H A 9 7 6 2 D 7 4 C 6 3 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: Though a chance for game exists — your partner might have as many as 18 points — the odds do not favor that, and you lack a satisfactory second bid anyway. Pass. Partner’s (opener’s) minimum bid in a new suit is not forcing, and one spade should be a reasonable contract.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A J
H Q 10 3
D A 10 9 8 5 2
C J 10
WEST
S K 8 5
H A 9 7 6 2
D 7 4
C 6 3 2
EAST
S Q 7 4 2
H K J
D K 3
C 9 8 7 5 4
SOUTH
S 10 9 6 3
H 8 5 4
D Q J 6
C A K Q
South West North East
1 C Pass 1 D Pass
1 NT(!) Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — H 6
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