"Think we'll ever find out what Cy did for a living?" Unlucky Louie asked me.

Cy the Cynic's former job, if he had one, is a subject of speculation. Cy won't talk about it, except in jest.

I showed Louie today's deal. "Cy was East," I said, "and West led the six of diamonds against 3NT. Cy took the ace and returned the deuce, and when declarer's jack won, the contract was safe. South led the king of spades to Cy's ace and had nine tricks.

THINKING

"I told Cy that he needed to think outside the box to beat 3NT. He said that thinking outside the box was what got him fired when he worked at a box factory."

"I must not have any imagination either," Louie shrugged. "The contract looks cold."

On the first diamond, Cy loses nothing by playing the queen. When South takes the king and forces out the ace of spades, Cy returns a LOW diamond (which, again, can cost nothing; South can't hold the K-J doubleton). South will have a tough guess and will go down if he misguesses.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 10 4 3 H K Q 10 2 D 10 8 7 6 3 C 4. Opponents vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens one spade. Your partner overcalls two hearts, and the next player bids three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your opponents are about to bid a cold four spades, and you will do well to sacrifice. To put on the pressure, jump to five hearts immediately, making them guess. If they go to five spades, you'll have a better chance for a plus score.