HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Friday, April 21, 2023

ARIES — Don’t try to fit into a mold you simply don’t belong in, Aries. You may have gone through a major transformation lately in which you went from being a square peg to a round peg. Other people might still be trying to push you into the square hole. Don’t let them.

TAURUS — There may be subtle messages in people’s words today that you need to attend to, Taurus. Other people could be trying to send you hints in order to push your buttons. Confront them on this behavior. Don’t ignore the subtleties in their voices. Tender, loving messages may be laced with thorns intended to provoke you.

GEMINI — Don’t keep playing along with the games if you no longer want to repeat the same drama, Gemini. By placing yourself in a victim role, you’re opening yourself up to manipulation and control by others. To stop the repetitive pattern, it’s crucial for you to stand up and recognize that you have an important part in the healing process.

CANCER — Today is excellent for you, Cancer. You should be encouraged to take action in any artistic realm. Cook a scrumptious dinner and share it with a loved one. Give your heart a chance to speak and act on what it says. Your feminine and masculine sides are on the same page now.

LEO — Go weed the garden, Leo. If you don’t have a garden, start one. It’s important for you to get into the Earth today, so roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. Feeling a connection with the ground is an important step in manifesting your dreams. Buy some seeds, fertilizer, and a watering can.

VIRGO — There’s great opportunity for romance today, Virgo. Love the people you’re with, but don’t smother them. The more you loosen your grip on a situation, the more you will gain control of it. Cutting chains to the past is the first step in moving forward toward a goal.

LIBRA — The active and receptive natures of your being are coming together, Libra. There’s a balance between these two aspects. You’re able to attract the prosperity and love you desire by the way in which you handle yourself around others. Today is about the equilibrium between give and take.

SCORPIO — Today is a fantastic day for you. Your sensual, caring nature will be appreciated, Scorpio. Whether you actively pursue it or sit back and relax, you will receive the love and good fortune you desire. Your creativity is also at a peak during this time.

SAGITTARIUS — Being married to someone for many years takes work, Sagittarius. No one said it was going to be easy. Hollywood promotes a fantasyland that can make your life look drab and boring by comparison. Realize that your life can be good and interesting, too - reality is even better than the movie version.

CAPRICORN — Today is a great day to make your big move, Capricorn. If there’s something in the love and romance department that you feel you need to act on, this is the day to do it. It’s now or never. Approach all situations in a practical, caring manner. Plow forward with confidence and don’t look back.

AQUARIUS — Take your focus off you and concentrate on someone else for a day, Aquarius. This doesn’t mean focusing so the person will stop and pay attention to you. It doesn’t mean getting their attention so that you have someone who will listen to you talk. Get someone’s attention because you really want to hear what he or she has to say.

PISCES — It might take an extra few minutes to get out of bed today, Pisces, but it will be worth it when you do. You will find that the more honest you’ve been with people, the more payoffs you will receive. Being dependable and trustworthy are key issues to focus on. Act strong and proud with regard to who you are and the rewards will come.

Daily Bridge

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Friday, April 21, 2023

It’s common knowledge that opportunity knocks only once (if at all, for some of us). Even then, she may knock softly. Today’s North-South bid to a slam though West’s weak two-bid warned of possible bad breaks. When West led the king of hearts, South took the ace and cashed his A-K of trumps — and West discarded. South still had a chance. He took the queen of trumps, then started the diamonds. East ruffed the third diamond and led another heart. Declarer ruffed and tried a club finesse with dummy’s jack, but East’s queen won.

Top Trumps

Opportunity knocked, could South but have heard. At Trick Two, South can ruff a heart. He then cashes his three top trumps. When he takes the A-K of diamonds next, and East plays the eight and ten, South can judge to play East for 4-3-2-4 pattern; hence, for the queen of clubs. South leads a club to dummy’s ace, ruffs the last heart and continues diamonds. When East ruffs, he must lead from the queen of clubs, conceding the slam.

Neither side vulnerable. Your partner deals and opens two hearts (weak). The next

Codeword Puzzle

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday through Saturday.

Crossword Puzzle

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance. All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid. Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

Puzzle

player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s call is unwelcome, but you must make the you will have a chance at various games or even at slam. Bid two spades, which most partnerships treat as forcing, and hear his next call. West