I found Cy the Cynic in the club lounge, writing an alimony check — feeding hay to a dead horse, he says.

Diamonds is Cy’s least favorite suit. He says it’s no coincidence that diamonds, the hardest substance in nature, is a symbol of marriage, which he tried once and found hard to endure.

When Cy was declarer at today’s 3NT, he won the first heart with the king, pondered, led a diamond to the ace, returned the ten ... and let it ride! West took his jack and led another heart. Cy then claimed nine tricks.

OVERTRICK

“You’ve lost your mind,” North said. “You were cold for an overtrick.”

“I don’t trust diamonds,” the Cynic growled.

Cy can go down only if he loses a diamond and four clubs. That can happen only if East gets in and leads a club from A-x-x. Cy can never lose four clubs if the first lead comes from West. So Cy executed an unlikely avoidance play to make sure East couldn’t win a diamond trick. Cy would have been a hero if East’s diamonds had been J-x-x-x.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ K 8 2 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ A Q 10 9 3 ♣ 4 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Someone seems to be overbidding, but you must trust your partner to have his values. You surely have a game or slam. You could bid 3NT, but the opening bidder may have good hearts plus an entry. Cuebid three hearts. You might make six diamonds if partner has A Q 7 6, 3, K 8 5 2, K 10 7 6.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable