HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Saturday, January 28, 2023

ARIES — Romantic novels and movies could be more appealing than usual today, Aries. You’re in an especially intense mindset. If you’re involved, your relationship could be near the point where it has to move ahead or end. Chances are it will move ahead.

If you aren’t attached, your loving nature will attract more than one potential partner into your aura.

TAURUS — Your financial situation could get a strong boost today, Taurus. This might be due to a contract you’ve just signed, perhaps involving some work you will do on your own rather than for an employer. The project may have strong personal significance. The creative arts could be involved, as well as technology.

GEMINI — Today you may decide to study healing, Gemini. You could read about alternative methods regarding diet, herbs, aromatherapy, massage, or acupuncture. You might decide to learn some hands-on methods. Whether or not you ever practice any of these professionally, learning about them should transform your life for the better on both physical and emotional levels. Make the most of it.

CANCER — Today you might decide to sign up for an advanced course of some kind, Cancer. This might include world religions or perhaps meditation. Stay out of bookstores, both physical and online. You might spend a fortune on books on your chosen subject. The effect of this is likely to be more profound than a simple accumulation of knowledge.

LEO — A group of friends may invite you to attend a festival or workshop involving the creative arts or metaphysical studies, or perhaps both, Leo. You might resist at first, but once you get there you will find the subject and instructor captivating. Afterward, you won’t want to talk about it. You will be too preoccupied with your thoughts.

VIRGO — If you’ve considered a career in healing, psychic, or spiritual studies or the creative arts, Virgo, today the opportunity to make that dream a reality could come your way. A close friend could open the door for you. Your own psychic and artistic abilities should be operating at a very high level, so don’t be intimidated.

LIBRA — Romance could be on your mind today, Libra. This could be due to a recent wonderful encounter with a love partner. Since then, listening to romantic music may have enhanced your feelings. You will want to schedule another meeting, but you might hold back because you don’t want to seem pushy.

SCORPIO — A very beautiful, romantic dream could inspire exalted artistic activities today, Scorpio. You might want to paint, draw, write, compose music, sew, or cook up a new recipe. Whatever you do, you won’t do it simply for your own amusement. You will want to show your work to others and seek their opinions and approval.

SAGITTARIUS — A rush of intense love and romantic passion for a special someone might turn your mind toward marriage, Sagittarius. The wedding of a friend may contribute to these thoughts. Your partner may still have doubts about moving to the next level of commitment, even though there’s no question that he or she truly loves you.

CAPRICORN — Today you could experience a strong desire to clear your psyche of past traumas that limit you, Capricorn. You may decide to register for a seminar or workshop of some kind. If you sign up today, all signs are that you will not only attain the results you want but you will also meet some interesting new people.

AQUARIUS — Love, passion, romance, and marriage - your mind will focus on these matters all day even if there’s no special person in your life right now, Aquarius. If you are involved, don’t be surprised if talk of a long-term commitment creeps into your conversations with your beloved. If you aren’t involved, someone new and exciting could appear on the scene.

PISCES — The approach of a very special visitor might cause you to thoroughly clean your house, Pisces. Afterward, you could look for new and interesting ways to dress it up with some new plants, throw pillows, or other decorative touches. This can be tiresome, but definitely worthwhile. When your friend arrives, he or she will feel at home. Work hard and then make yourself look great.

Daily Bridge

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Saturday, January 28, 2023

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on improving basic technique and developing logical thinking.

The cheetahs made it into the Ark, but so did the snails. Take your time as declarer. Form a plan before you play. Hasty play has scuttled many easy contracts.

Today’s auction was hit-or-miss: South’s 4NT Blackwood bid was an error since North could have held a hand such as Q J 2, Q 8 7 4, K J 8, A 10 5. Against six hearts, West led the deuce of spades, and the play ended early when South finessed with dummy’s queen. East took the king and cashed his ace of clubs.

Two Spades

Apparently, declarer never met a finesse he didn’t like. Even assuming that West had the king of spades, South needed to pick up the trump suit to make his slam. But if he could draw trumps, he could then run the diamonds to pitch two spades from dummy, losing only a club to the ace. South’s play of the queen of spades was a “practice finesse” that couldn’t gain even it won. He must take the ace and finesse in trumps.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: 9

Only your side is vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens three clubs.

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 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

What do you say?

ANSWER: This problem is awkward and would divide an expert panel. If you double and partner responds three spades, you can’t strand him there, but if you continue with four diamonds, he may think you have a better hand. Bid three diamonds though you would make that call with less strength. South dealer