Diversions

Thought for Today

Horoscope

By Horoscope.com

Monday, April 24, 2023

Aries: A sudden fascination with metaphysical or spiritual concepts could have you wanting to read as much as you can on the subject, Aries. Your enthusiasm could lead you in a dozen different directions, which could eventually lead to mental overload. It might be a better idea to take one subject at a time than try to learn about them all at once.

Taurus: A business enterprise with a friend might seem a little shaky today, Taurus. You could alternate between enthusiasm and gloom regarding this project. It’s probably a good one and could lead to the success you want. Don’t make any negative judgments about its future based on what happens today.

Gemini: A business deal that you may have been working to finish could require you to tie up a lot of loose ends today, Gemini. You might be pulled in a lot of different directions. Don’t panic! Get some help if you can. Make a list of what you have to do and cross each task off as it’s completed.

Cancer: Accomplishing some important business might require touching base with many people who live and work far away, perhaps in other countries. This might require that you spend a lot of time on the phone, and it also would require allowing for the different time zones, which could be a drag. You will eventually make the contacts you need, even if they don’t come until tomorrow.

Leo: If you’ve been thinking about investing, Leo, this isn’t the day to commit to anything. This is a great day to consider your options, study economic trends, and analyze what you want from investing. It isn’t a good day to hand over the money. Land could be a strong possibility. Consult with professionals, read the papers, and look into all kinds of opportunities before committing to one.

Virgo: Working at home could be difficult today, especially if you’re finalizing a business deal, Virgo. Other household members will be coming and going, slamming doors, asking questions, bringing their friends in. If you’re doing household chores, forget it for now and return to it when it’s quieter. If you’re approaching a deadline, close the door and tell others to leave you alone for a while.

Libra: Today you might feel the urge to get all unfinished work done, Libra. You could suddenly be in a frenzy to work quickly but perhaps not as conscientiously as you should. You may spend a lot of time going through paperwork and discarding what’s outdated. It might be a better idea to slow down a little and look closely at what you’re doing.

Scorpio: Too many people may be vying for your attention today, Sagittarius, both at work and home. You will want to make them all happy, so you may feel a little frazzled. Your temper might also be on edge. It would be better to put off the less urgent demands than work yourself into a frenzy. Those who matter would rather have you enjoy life than tire yourself out for their sake.

Sagittarius: Too many people may be vying for your attention today, Sagittarius, both at work and home. You will want to make them all happy, so you may feel a little frazzled. Your temper might also be on edge. It would be better to put off the less urgent demands than work yourself into a frenzy. Those who matter would rather have you enjoy life than tire yourself out for their sake.

Capricorn: Communications coming your way today may be more plentiful than useful, Capricorn. You could receive lots of confusing phone calls. At first you will be excited by the mailbox full of letters, but then you’ll find that some are junk while others are addressed to people you’ve never heard of.

Aquarius: A friend may ask to borrow some money today, Aquarius. You may feel that he or she is asking for more than is really needed, and certainly more than you’re willing to give. You might think this puts you in an awkward position. Try to talk to your friend and explain your situation. If you have to say no, just say it.

Pisces: Some of your job responsibilities are too much for one person and they might weigh you down today, Pisces. The pile of work seems to get steadily bigger no matter what you do. Delegate if you can. Put the least urgent tasks aside and work your way steadily

Daily Bridge

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Monday, April 24, 2023

“To get rid of a bad habit, don’t toss it out the window; coax it down the stairs, one step at a time.”

Many declarers have the bad habit of drawing trumps at a wrong time. At four spades, South ruffed the first heart, led a trump to dummy’s queen and cashed the ace hopefully. No king appeared.

South next led a club, but West won, took his king of trumps and led another heart, forcing out South’s last trump. South ran the clubs, but the defense won the last three tricks. Down two.

FORCING

South’s play in trumps left him open to losing control. South can finesse in trumps at Trick Two but should lead a diamond next. West wins and leads another heart, and South ruffs and forces out the ace of clubs. (Even if the defense could get a club ruff, South might be no worse off. If East had 6 3, A Q 6 5 2, 8 7 5 3 2, 2, the game would be unmakeable.)

South ruffs the next heart, takes the ace of trumps and runs his winners. He loses only to West’s high trump.

This week: trump management.

You

Both sides vulnerable. Your partner opens one

Sudoku

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-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Saturday’s Life section.

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

spade, and the next player bids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Bid four spades to show a big spade fit and a shapely hand but little high-card strength. With a strong hand, you would cuebid three hearts. If partner plays at four spades and doesn’t make it, chances are the opponents could have made a high contract if left room to locate it.

West dealer

Both sides vulnerable