HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

ARIES — If you’re involved in the study of a particular subject, Aries, today you might want to bury yourself in your books and learn as much as you can. This is good, because your concentration is especially good. Go to the library or a private room where you won’t be distracted and hit the books.

TAURUS — This isn’t the day to make investments, Taurus. You may read in the paper or online about some hot new stocks, but be very careful. If you’re interested, consult a professional before investing money. Even after you’ve talked to an expert, it’s still a good idea to wait a day or two before you make the investment.

GEMINI — Does a love partner appear to be moody today, Gemini? One moment your friend may be enthusiastic and optimistic about the future, and the next moment overcome with gloom. Don’t let this get to you, and certainly don’t get overly upset with your partner. Listen rather than talk, and be patient.

CANCER — Are you working two jobs, Cancer? Today one could demand a lot of you, probably at the expense of the other. You tend to be very conscientious and responsible, so this might bother you, but don’t let it get to you. The day may come when the situation is reversed.

LEO — Your natural urge to innovate may seem to have vanished today, Leo. You may not feel like doing anything outside of routine tasks that you can do automatically. You’re suffering from low biorhythms, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re turning into a lazy bum. Relax today, and tomorrow you will be your usual energetic, inventive self.

VIRGO — The urge to stay in and rearrange your furniture might hit you today, Virgo. You may want to clean out the shelves in your kitchen, add some new knickknacks, or rearrange your books into specific classifications. This may be a lot of work, but it will also be a lot of fun. Get other members of the household to help and turn it into a party.

LIBRA — Are you expecting

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

If you asked Cy the Cynic for his views on patience, he would say it’s a virtue — which means few people have it. Cy certainly has none: As declarer, he seizes on the first line of play he sees.

As today’s South, Cy appreciated the potential of his hand when he leaped to six spades. West led a high club, and Cy took the ace and promptly ruffed his ten in dummy. He next took the A-K of trumps.

When East discarded, the Cynic was doomed. He conceded a trump, ruffed West’s club return and cashed two more trumps. East-West discarded carefully, and Cy won only 11 tricks.

Heart Ruff

I would define patience as the art of concealing — and suppressing — your impatience. Cy should lead a heart to dummy’s ace at Trick Two, ruff a heart and take the K-A of trumps. He discards a diamond on the king of hearts and ruffs a heart.

Cy can then (only then) ruff a club in dummy. He takes the good fifth heart to discard another diamond. West’s high trump wins the defenders’ only trick.

Daily Question

You hold: K 10 9

10. You open one spade, your partner responds two an important communication, perhaps business related, Libra? If it comes today, it will probably come late. If you feel you must sit around and wait for it, find something else to do in the meantime or you will drive yourself crazy. If it doesn’t arrive by the end of the day, resign yourself to waiting. Don’t panic. It will come soon enough.

SCORPIO — A check you’ve been expecting to receive by mail will probably be delayed, Scorpio. It’s nothing to worry about. Chances are it got hung up at the post office and will arrive soon. Don’t waste your time worrying needlessly. If you feel it necessary, make contingency plans for getting by. Your money is coming. Hang in there.

SAGITTARIUS — You may not be your usual cheery self today, Sagittarius. Gloom may have come over you. You may doubt everything that happens in your life. No matter how promising a career, romance, or money matter seems, you think the worst. Treat yourself today. Get a massage, relax in a hot tub, and rub and soak out those doubting spirits.

CAPRICORN — Happy memories of a beloved grandparent may float to the surface today, Capricorn, and you may wonder why. Something or someone you’ve encountered in the past few days may have reminded you of this person. It’s nice and it isn’t an accident. What personality trait of yours does your grandparent call to mind?

AQUARIUS — A meeting may take place today that you don’t want to attend, Aquarius. It could be long and boring, but you should still make the effort to listen. Colleagues will want to discuss the issues with you afterward, and you might learn something in spite of the boredom. Think of it this wayit’s only an hour or so.

PISCES — A project could be successfully completed today, Pisces. Discussions may already be taking place about the next one, but you aren’t inclined to think about that, at least not right away. You will want to bask in your accomplishment and relax for a while. No one can blame you for that, so don’t worry if you don’t go to brainstorming sessions.

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

hearts, you rebid two spades and he tries 2NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have a little extra high-card strength, a sixth spade and good spade intermediates. Your hand is too promising to stop below game.

A bid of three diamonds now would suggest your 6-4 pattern but would suggest a minimum hand. Jump to four spades and hope to buy a reasonable dummy.