"How'd your psychiatrist visit go?" I asked Cy the Cynic.

"I told him nobody believes a word I say," Cy growled.

"How did he respond?"

"He said 'Tell me the truth, what's really your problem?'"

I had to agree that Cy has credibility issues after today's deal. He was South and landed at the second-best slam - six spades - after East bid clubs.

When West led the four of clubs, Cy knew what was coming. He could see the deuce and three, so the four was a singleton. So when East took the ace, Cy desperately - but without a pause - dumped his king! East would be afraid to lead the queen, since Cy (presumably) would ruff, and dummy's jack would be a winner.

12 TRICKS

"If he had shifted," the Cynic told me, "I'd have had 12 tricks: four trumps, five diamonds, two hearts and a ruff."

It was a beautiful maneuver by Cy, but East, for reasons unknown, was an unbeliever: At Trick Two he led the queen of clubs! Down one.

"Next time I'll bid 6NT," Cy said glumly.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 10 9 5 H A 8 7 4 D K C J 7 6 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: This is a judgment call. Some players would bid 2NT since the hand has two possible spade stoppers and the club support is only fair. I usually prefer to "support with support" and would raise to three clubs. It may still be possible to get to notrump if partner finds another bid.