"Women don't want to hear what men think," Cy the Cynic told me. "They want to hear what they think in a deeper voice."

"You had another set-to with Wendy?" I asked.

"She was fishing for compliments," Cy said, "and I wouldn't bite."

Cy, a shameless chauvinist, and Wendy, my club's feminist, are always at odds.

"She was declarer at four hearts," the Cynic said. "She drew trumps and led the queen of spades, and West won and returned a spade. Wendy finessed with dummy's ten, threw a club on the king, ruffed a spade and led a diamond. West could get only the minor-suit aces.

NOT BEST

"Wendy asked how I liked her play. I said it wasn't best, and she said I was a typical man, refusing to give credit where it was due."

Wendy goes down (needlessly) if East has the jack of spades. Wendy should lead a diamond to the queen at Trick Two. She draws trumps and leads the three of spades to the king and a spade back. When West wins he has a choice of returns, all losing.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A J 7 4 H 6 2 D A 5 4 3 C A Q 5. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. You double, the next player raises to two hearts and your partner bids two spades. The opening bidder passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: You mustn't punish your partner for competing. What he has really done is support your implied spades at the level of two; he may have K Q 6 2, 7 4 3, J 2, 9 6 4 2. Pass. If the opponents push on to three hearts, you can consider bidding.