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Bridge 1/4
Mislead declarer, not partner
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    An unknown person said, "A magician pulls rabbits out of hats. An experimental psychologist pulls habits out of rats."
    Sidney Lazard, world championship winner of three player medals (one silver and two bronze) and three nonplaying captain medals (two gold and one silver), found a rabbity play in this deal from the quarterfinals of this year's trials to select the USA-2 team for the Shanghai Bermuda Bowl.
    Take Lazard's East hand. South is in three no-trump. West leads a fourth-highest spade two. How would you plan the defense?
    At the other table, John Kranyak (North) opened one no-trump in the fourth position and ended in three no-trump. When East led a heart, declarer immediately claimed 10 tricks.
    Note North's careful three-heart bid, showing three-card support and the values to bid game.
    Lazard, looking at all those red-suit winners on the board, realized that his side had to take the first five tricks. And that was not likely to happen if he plugged away at spades. So, after taking the first trick with his spade ace, he shifted to the club king!
    When East continued with the club eight at trick three, South understandably put up the queen and lost the first six tricks: two spades and four clubs.
    "Understandably"? Perhaps not. If East had begun with ace-king-fourth of clubs, I think he would have shifted to a low club, not the king.
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Astrograph 11/7
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    Organization and proper planning will greatly strengthen your possibilities for success in the year ahead, and they will be the major reasons for you making such leaps and bounds in both your personal and work-related life.
    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Make plans to engage in a recreational activity with friends or family. Getting your mind off all the serious things in life will do wonders for your outlook.
    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) This is an excellent day to gather the information you need on a matter of importance, whether it is work-related, personal or homework. You'll have an easier time doing so than usual.
    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Quality, not flamboyance, is what you should be looking for in companions. A comfortable, compatible friendship will be more enjoyable and fulfilling than spending time with garish, flashy people.
    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) If you have to make a choice between profit and pride of accomplishment, choose the latter. Acquiring self-esteem will be more valuable and long lasting than procuring material wealth.
    PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) One of your better assets is your ability to communicate effectively. You're not only good at gathering facts but also at disseminating them to those who will put them to fruitful uses.
    ARIES (March 21-April 19) By remaining optimistic and keeping your expectations within realistic bounds, you will gradually gain ground on your goals. Because you don't expect more than you should, you won't give up.
    TAURUS (April 20-May 20) One of your best assets is being a good listener, and this will prove to be an advantageous trait. You will learn about something that you'll put to good use at this time.
    GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Keep your goals and desires in proportion to your abilities, and you will have more possibilities for success than most people do, regardless of your field of endeavor.
    CANCER (June 21-July 22) You have what it takes to accomplish your goals. You'll not only be an efficient worker; you'll also know how to interact with others to make them effective as well.
    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Handling small details could be more significant than usual, particularly in domestic matters. Paying attention to even meaningless family activities will greatly please your loved ones.
    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Associates, friends and family will be more willing to listen to what you have to say if you keep your conversations brief. The absence of boring small talk will make what you say far more interesting.
    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Even a small, minor development can turn out to be profitable if done in conjunction with what is already on the table. You will have many good things going for you at this time.
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