C6 EZ RE THE WASHINGTON POST.MONDAY, MAY 23 , 2022
BREWSTER ROCKIT: SPACE GUY! TIM RICKARD
CURTIS RAY BILLINGSLEY
SHERMAN’S LAGOON JIM TOOMEY
RED AND ROVER BRIAN BASSET
FRANK AND ERNEST TOM THAVES
RHYMES WITH ORANGE HILARY PRICE
LIO MARK TATULLI
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE CHRIS BROWNE
BLONDIE DEAN YOUNG & JOHN MARSHALL
MIKE DU JOUR MIKE LESTER
AGNES TONY COCHRAN
WUMO MIKAEL WULFF & ANDERS MORGENTHALER
MARK TRAIL JULES RIVERA
MOTHER GOOSE & GRIMM MIKE PETERS
BALDO HECTOR CANTU & CARLOS CASTELLANOS
SALLY FORTH FRANCESCO MARCIULIANO & JIM KEEFE
CLASSIC PEANUTS CHARLES SCHULZ
CLASSIC DOONESBURY GARRY TRUDEAU PICKLES BRIAN CRANE
SUDOKUNORTH
♠ A Q J 9 3
♥ K 2
♦ J 7 4
♣ 10 7 3
WEST
♠ 8 5 4
♥ 7 6 4
♦ 6 5 3
♣ 9 8 5 2EAST
♠ K 7 2
♥ 8
♦ Q 8 2
♣ A K Q J 6 4
SOUTH (D)
♠ 10 6
♥ A Q J 10 9 5 3
♦ A K 10 9
♣ NoneThe bidding:U
nlucky Louie, who has
a houseful of kids (and
three more no longer under
his roof), says that 75 per-
cent of parenting is anticipat-
ing what your kids are going
to spill. Louie would hold
down his losses in my club’s
penny game if he avoided
disasters like the one in
today’s deal.
Louie reached a good
slam. He ruffed the opening
club lead, drew trumps and
let the 10 of spades ride.
East casually played. When
Louie blithely led a second
spade to dummy’s jack, East
took the king and led a high
club. Louie ruffed, but when
his A-K of diamonds failed
to drop the queen, he went
down one.
“There’s no use crying over
spilled milk,” Louie sighed.
I’ll spill the beans. Louie
booted a cold slam. After
his first spade finesse wins,
Louie should assure his con-
tract by leading a spade to
the ace. He can then finesse
in diamonds, winning 12 or
13 tricks depending on which
defender has the queen.
This week: playing safe.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold:
♠ A Q J 9 3 ♥ K 2
♦ J 7 4 ♣ 10 7 3
Your partner opens one
heart, you bid one spade and
he rebids two hearts. What
do you say?
ANSWER: This case is
close. Partner promises a six-
card or longer suit (with only
five hearts, he would always
have a more descriptive sec-
ond bid) and minimum open-
ing values. A conservative
pass might be best, but you
can make game if partner
holds K 5, A Q 10 7 6 3, A 5
3, 6 5. Raise to three hearts,
especially if vulnerable.N-S VULNERABLESOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 ♥ Pass 1 ♠ 2 ♣
3 ♣ Pass 4 ♠ Pass
6 ♥ All Pass
Opening lead — ♣ 9BRIDGE©2022, TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
— Frank Stewart