The Washington Post - 20.02.2020

C6 EZ RE the washington post.thursday, february 20 , 2020

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

♠ Q 4 3 2

♥ J 8 2

♦ K 10 7 3

♣ A 4

WEST (D)

♠ 10 9 8 7 6

♥ 7 5 4

♦ J 6

♣ 8 7 6

EAST

♠ J

♥ K Q 10 9 6

♦ 8 4 2

♣ Q 10 5 2

SOUTH

♠ A K 5

♥ A 3

♦ A Q 9 5

♣ K J 9 3

The bidding:

I

n the Blue Ribbon Pairs at

the ACBL Fall NABC, many-

time world champion Lynn

Deas opened 2NT after three

passes. The way people bid

with disinhibition these days,

it’s a wonder East passed in

third seat.

North, Peter Weichsel,

raised to 3NT, declining to

use Stayman because he

had extra high-card strength;

to play at a 4-4 spade fit

might not gain.

Deas won the first spade

with the king and took the

ace. When East discarded

a heart, Deas ran the dia-

monds. East threw another

heart, West pitched a spade

and a heart. Declarer then

cashed the ace of clubs

and led a club to her jack.

She next took the queen of

spades and exited with a

spade at Tr ick 10.

East could save three

cards. If he kept only one

heart, Deas would discard

the nine of clubs. If East kept

only one club, Deas would

let go the three of hearts.

Making six either way.

South can also win 12

tricks by ducking an early

heart, but “rectifying the

count” on the same trick

the squeeze operated was

elegant.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold:

♠ Q 4 3 2 ♥ J 8 2

♦ K 10 7 3 ♣ A 4

The dealer, at your left,

opens one heart. Your part-

ner doubles, and the next

player bids two hearts. What

do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has

opening values or more with

support for the unbid suits

(and implies shortness in

hearts). Game chances are

bright enough to make an

encouraging move. Bid three

spades. To jump in a flimsy

suit is unpleasant, but you

are really “supporting” a suit

partner implied.

NEITHER SIDE VULNERABLE

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass Pass 2 NT

Pass 3 NT All Pass

Opening lead — ♠ 10

BRIDGE

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— Frank Stewart