"Wendy thinks I'm cynical," Cy the Cynic grumbled, "but she's worse than I'll ever be. She says I'm a typical man: basically as faithful as my options."

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

"Maybe she broke up with her boyfriend," I said.

"She was upset about this deal," the Cynic growled. "I was declarer at 3NT, and she was dummy. When West led a spade, I captured East's king, led a diamond to dummy and lost a finesse with the queen of hearts. When hearts didn't break 3-3, I went down, and Wendy was all over my case."

TRICK TWO

Cy had options - and was faithful to the wrong one: He should duck a diamond at Trick Two. He wins the spade return and runs the diamonds when the suit breaks 3-2.

Cy's play works when hearts break 3-3 or East has the king: about 68 percent. The correct play is a little better, making an overtrick when diamonds break 3-2 (68 percent) or, if diamonds break 4-1, making three if East has a singleton king, K-x or perhaps K-x-x in hearts.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A Q 5 H A Q J 3 D 7 3 C A K 4 2. With neither side vulnerable, your partner deals and opens three diamonds. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: It would help to know your partner's views on preemptive openings. Assuming he adheres to a "textbook" style and will have a hand such as 7 6, 6, K Q J 9 6 4 2, 7 6 5, bid five diamonds. At 3NT, his hand may take only one trick. Two losers are too likely for you to consider slam.