Wendy's Sense of Humor

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“I think Wendy actually has a sense of humor,” Cy the Cynic said to me.
Cy, a chauvinist, and Wendy, my club’s feminist, are always at odds.
“She told me her law firm is defending an ostrich,” Cy said.
“On what charge?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but the legal team got the bird released on bail. Wendy said the court determined that he wasn’t a flight risk.”
Wendy wasn’t in such a good humor after today’s deal. She was North, and Cy was declarer at 4♥. When West led the ♦Q, the Cynic took the ace and promptly tried for diamond discards on high clubs. Alas, East ruffed the second club, and the defense took
two diamonds, the ace of trumps and a spade.

Dlr: North ♠ A 5
Vul: Both ♥ Q J 5 4
♦ 7 6 2
♣ K Q J 3
♠ K J 7 ♠ Q 10 9 3 2
♥ — ♥ A 10 8 7
♦ Q J 10 3 ♦ K 9 5
♣ 10 9 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8
♠ 8 6 4
♥ K 9 6 3 2
♦ A 8 4
♣ A 5
North East South West
1♣ 1♠ 2♥ 2♠
4♥ All Pass

Opening lead — ♦Q

Jailed

“You should be jailed without bail,” Wendy growled at Cy.
Cy miscounted his winners. He should lead a trump to the queen at trick two. East wins, and the defense takes two diamonds. Cy wins the spade shift, picks up the trumps and runs the clubs to discard his last two spades. Making four.

Daily Question

You hold:
♠ A 5
♥ Q J 5 4
♦ 7 6 2
♣ K Q J 3
Your partner opens 1♦. The next player bids 2♠ (preemptive). What do you say?

ANSWER
You have ample strength to bid 3NT, but if partner’s spade holding is Q-x, he needs to be declarer. A bid of 3♣ might work out. Your best call is a negative double that (by agreement) suggests length in the unbid suits and at least a fair hand. Discuss negative doubles with your partner.