The Washington Post - 31.07.2019

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31 , 2019. THE WASHINGTON POST EZ RE C7

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 JAMES ALLEN

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

SUDOKU

NORTH

 K 7 3

 10 9 8 4

 A 9 6

 7 6 4

WEST

 Q J 10 8 4

 Q 6 5

 8 3

 Q 10 2

EAST

 9 6

 7 2

 Q 7 5 4 2

 K 8 5 3

SOUTH (D)

 A 5 2

 A K J 3

 K J 10

 A J 9

The bidding:

C

y the Cynic had a doc-

tor’s appointment. He

showed up late for his penny

game, grumbling about

doctors who mangle their

appointment schedule.

“Doctors have emergen-

cies,” I observed.

“People who test my

patience need to understand

that it’s one exam I don’t

plan to pass,” Cy growled.

Cy needs patience as

declarer. At today’s 3NT, he

took the king of spades and

passed the 10 of hearts,

losing to West’s queen. Cy

won the spade return and

next let the jack of diamonds

ride, but when East took the

queen, Cy won only eight

tricks.

After Cy wins the second

spade, he can cash his

hearts, then exit with a

spade to let West take his

tricks. East would probably

pitch two diamonds and then

three clubs. Cy would discard

clubs from dummy and his

hand.

When at Trick 10 West led

a club to the king and ace,

Cy would have a reliable

count: East, who held only

four major-suit cards, was

more likely to have diamond

length. So Cy would play him

for the queen — and make

3 NT.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold:

 K 7 3  10 9 8 4

 A 9 6  7 6 4

Your partner opens one

diamond, and the next player

overcalls one spade. You

make a negative double, and

your partner then bids two

hearts. The opponents pass.

What do you say?

ANSWER: Your double

promised length in hearts

but the wrong type of hand to

bid two hearts. Partner’s sec-

ond bid is not a “reverse.” He

is just “raising” the suit that

your double suggested. Pass.

You have no extra strength.

N-S VULNERABLE

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass

Opening lead —  Q

BRIDGE

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— Frank Stewart