C6 EZ RE THE WASHINGTON POST.WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 , 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
♠ Q 5 4
♥ 7 3 2
♦ K Q 6 3
♣ 7 3 2
WEST
♠ J 10 9 8
♥ Q 6 4
♦ J 10 8 7
♣ 8 5EAST
♠ 7 3 2
♥ J 10 9 5
♦ A
♣ Q J 10 9 6
SOUTH (D)
♠ A K 6
♥ A K 8
♦ 9 5 4 2
♣ A K 4The bidding:W
hen I watched today’s
deal, Joe Overberry was
South. He believes it’s nobler
to go down trying for an over-
trick than to make his bid. As
you might expect, Joe doesn’t
know much about safety
plays (my topic this week);
he wouldn’t play safe even if
he did.
At 3NT, Joe took the ace
of spades and counted three
spades, two hearts, two
clubs and (if West had the
ace of diamonds) three dia-
monds: an overtrick! At Trick
Two, Joe led a diamond to
dummy’s king.
East took the ace and
returned a spade. Joe won
and cashed the queen of
diamonds, but when East dis-
carded, Joe could take only
eight tricks.
“The man would try for an
overtrick at a grand slam,”
North said gloomily.
Joe should play as safe
as he can for two diamond
tricks — all he needs to
make 3NT — by leading his
deuce and playing low from
dummy. If East won cheaply
and returned a spade, Joe
would lead a diamond to the
king next. He guards against
the only danger holding: the
singleton ace with East.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold:
♠ A K 6 ♥ A K 8
♦ 9 5 4 2 ♣ A K 4
Only your side is vulnera-
ble. The dealer, at your right,
opens three clubs. What do
you say?
ANSWER: You have no
bidding room to investigate.
You must assume that your
partner has a few points.
Double. If he responds in a
suit at the three level, bid
3NT. Then if he has Q J 8 7
3, 7 6, A 10 8 6 3, 3, he will
insist on a suit contract. If
instead you overcall 3NT
directly, he may think you
hold a hand such as 7 3, K 3,
A K Q 10 7 6 5, A 4.N-S VULNERABLESOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — ♠ JBRIDGE©2022, TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
— Frank Stewart