Cause of Death

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frs1016@centurylink.net
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
South West North East
1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass
2♠ Pass 4♠ Pass
6♠ All Pass

Opening lead — ♠10

Extra Entry

Cy 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:
♠ A K 4 3
♥ K
♦ A 9 8 7 5
♣ A Q 5
Your partner opens 1♠, you respond 1NT, he bids 2♥ and you return to 2♠. Partner then bids 3♠. What do you say?

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♥.