HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, February 16, 2023

ARIES — Information received from far away could compel you to learn more about the subject, Aries. You might be inspired to use your new knowledge in a project that includes a partner. Your mind is insightful now. If you face decisions, this is definitely the day to follow your heart. Don’t be surprised if you also find your telepathic abilities expanded.

TAURUS — Money matters may be advanced through using your intuition and inner power today, Taurus. You might have a hunch that your idea for making extra money might just work. Look into it at least. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it until you know the facts. You might also rediscover a long-neglected talent that you find useful now.

GEMINI — A surge of inner power could make you feel like you can move mountains, Gemini. If you’ve been contemplating actions that others believe impossible, this is the day to get them going. Career matters, romance, and creative projects could all be advanced today by careful effort on your part.

CANCER — Memories from your distant past could resurface today, Cancer. You may wonder why you’re suddenly thinking about them, but they probably represent a release of old emotional hang-ups that have been holding you back. By midafternoon you should feel more focused, determined, and ready to take on anything.

LEO — Today represents a new beginning in many ways. An old friend could reappear in your life and bring up memories that are both pleasant and disconcerting, Leo. Don’t worry too much about this. It probably represents a needed release. You may also get involved with a group that has goals you embrace.

VIRGO — Emotions could be running high, Virgo. Someone in your entourage may have a problem with an authority figure and political issues could come up. You’re likely to feel especially powerful now, and so you might be tempted to throw your hat in the ring. It’s better to stay out of anything political and channel that power and passion into your own project.

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Cy the Cynic leads an active social life. “I heard you had a blind date with a woman who works for Verizon,” I said. “How did that go?”

“We never connected,” Cy grunted.

As today’s West, Cy faced what you might consider a blind opening lead against 3NT. But Cy reasoned that he should lead a major, and the ace of spades might be an entry to set up heart tricks. So Cy led the deuce of hearts: three, king, ace.

South next led a spade, and the Cynic stuck to his plan: He took the ace to lead the jack of hearts, winning, and a third heart. South won, but when he next finessed in diamonds, East took the king and cashed two hearts. Down one.

MISPLAY

I suppose Cy’s reasoning was sound, but South misplayed. South has no worries if hearts are split 4-4, but if Cy led from a three-card holding, South must force out East’s entry early, before his hearts are good. So at Trick Two, South must finesse in diamonds.

When East wins and returns a heart, South ducks, wins the third heart and leads a spade. He is safe when Cy has the ace but no more hearts.

You hold:

LIBRA — Heightened mental powers might make you spend a lot of time reading or doing research of some kind, Libra. Your curiosity is especially sharp right now. You might even consider advancing your education somehow, especially since new interests have been popping up for some time.

SCORPIO — Scorpio, your intuition might increase today to the point where you feel like you could deduce the thoughts and motives of people you’ve never met before. Reading the news might bring you sudden insights as to how things are going to turn out. You could decide to put this ability to work to advance your financial condition.

SAGITTARIUS — You should be feeling especially passionate now, Sagittarius, especially regarding partnerships. Romantic partnerships definitely call for an evening alone together. Professional and creative ones, on the other hand, call for a new project that you both believe in. Look to events in distant states or foreign countries for inspiration.

CAPRICORN — If you haven’t been feeling like yourself lately, Capricorn, a surge of inner power could push you over the top and make you feel strong and healthy again. You could decide to complete all your unfinished tasks today. You could get most of them done by day’s end. Don’t forget to take time out to enjoy yourself. You want to make the most of your newfound strength.

AQUARIUS — A surge of passion could dominate your day unless you find an outlet for it, Aquarius. Romantic passion is high, so an intimate evening with a lover is a good idea. Creative passion is strong. You could have a sudden inspiration, perhaps influenced by a distant place. Don’t be afraid to take time from your mundane chores to pursue this inspiration.

PISCES — A romantic evening at home with your partner could bring you two closer together, Pisces. Your emotions are intense right now, however, so you need to use your intuition to judge exactly how much of your feelings you should reveal. An intellectual passion could also come your way. You might discover a new field of interest, and you will want to study it at home for hours.

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

one club, you bid one spade and he raises to two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have enough strength for game. Bid 3NT, giving partner a choice if he raised you with three-card support. Even if in your style he promises four-card support, to try 3NT would be reasonable. (In today’s deal, South responded 2NT to a one-diamond opening with this hand — for reasons best known to him.)

North dealer