Millard Pringle was at the club today. Millard is a quiet little man - retired from the IRS, I believe - who has trouble staying in the present.

"His mind wanders so far," Cy the Cynic says, "that sometimes it comes back with souvenirs of the trip."

In a money game, Cy was North and Millard was South. Against six diamonds. West led the king of spades, and Millard took the ace and saw that he had to get rid of dummy's last spade before he forced out the ace of trumps. He took the A-K-Q of hearts for a spade discard. Both defenders followed suit.

LAST HEART

"Millard then led a trump," Cy said, "and when West took the ace, he led his last heart, Millard ruffed in dummy, but East overruffed with the nine for down one."

Millard lost his focus and cost himself (and Cy, an innocent victim) 1,470 points. After Millard takes his discard on the hearts, he must cash the A-K of clubs to discard his last heart. He then leads a trump, and the defenders get only the ace of trumps.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 10 4 H A K Q 5 D K Q J 10 5 C 5. The dealer, at your right, opens three clubs. You double, and your partner responds three spades. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your double promised a hand worth 17 or more points, hence you have enough extra strength to act again. Your spade support is inadequate to raise a suit you obliged your partner to bid. Bid four diamonds. If partner has K Q 5 3 2, 8 7 3, 9 8, 8 7 3, he can try four spades.