1. Four spades. Once partner responds with one spade, game must be reached. Only an avowed pessimist would think that the combined hands might not provide a satisfactory play for 10 tricks. Whether the basis for this evaluation is point count -- you have 18 high-card points plus two doubletons ...

DEAR ANNIE: I need some serious help. Our son, 36, has been married for three years. In May 2024, our daughter-in-law became pregnant. We were elated. She is a nice young woman, but she does have some anxiety and other issues, which have taken a rather turbulent turn. Unfortunately, the ...

DEAR HELOISE: Every house has a junk drawer, and everyone knows exactly which drawer it is. The reason that it never stays organized isn’t due to a lack of effort but a lack of categories. Everything goes in together because there’s nowhere else for it to go. Then you can’t find anything ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife is suffering from a failed back surgery that was caused by a neurosurgeon. The operation was four years ago, and she also had a spine stimulator that was implanted three years ago. Her pain management doctor said that she’ll get progressively worse as current medical ...

It’s funny how some players get mad at their partners. An acquaintance of mine, Abernethy C. Growler, is a member of this school. Just put 13 cards in his hand, good or bad, and he acquires the wisdom of Solomon and the autocracy of a sergeant with new stripes. Abernethy was playing at the ...