Cy the Cynic had been to Barnes & Noble; its existence, he says, is one of the few pieces of evidence that people are still thinking.

"Is the world reading more?" Cy wondered.

"Men would," Wendy, our feminist, put in, "if they had a remote they could use to turn the pages."

Wendy might want to review a book on dummy play. At today's 3NT, she won the first spade and tried the club finesse. East took the king and returned a spade, and Wendy played low and won the third spade. She next led a heart (she had only eight tricks to cash), and West took the ace -- and then two spades.

ENTRY

It was a textbook deal. Since West should have length in spades, Wendy must force out his entry before the spades are good. She should lead a heart at Trick Two. If West plays low, Wendy shifts to clubs effectively.

If West takes the first heart to continue spades, Wendy ducks, wins the third spade and finesses in clubs. Even if East can win, Wendy loses at most four tricks in all.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 10 7 4 2 H A 9 2 D 10 6 3 C 6 3. Your partner opens one club, you bid one spade and he raises to three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner's jump-raise invites game but isn't forcing. He has a hand worth about 17 points with four-card spade support -- and by inference unbalanced or semibalanced pattern since he didn't open 1NT. Bid four spades. Your fifth spade and side ace should suffice to make it. Partner may hold A J 9 3, 4, A 8 5, A Q 8 5 2.