Spaced out

UNLUCKY Louie stumbled into the club looking like he needed a shower and shave. “What happened to you?” I asked. “My wife and I had a spat,” Louie sighed. “I said I needed more space – and she locked me out of the house. I’ve slept on the couch before, but never in the car.”

After freshening up as best he could, Louie sat down for a Chicago game, and things went no better for him: He promptly got locked out of the dummy. Against his slam, West led the nine of diamonds: ten, queen.

SPADE RETURN

Louie confidently awaited a spade return, but East was Millard Pringle, who gets lost in the maze of defensive “rules.” Millard returned his partner’s diamond lead!

Louie did what he could. He took the jack, cashed the ace to pitch his ace of clubs, and threw three spades on the K-Q-J of clubs. Alas, West ruffed.

Millard’s play was correct. Louie’s bidding suggested four spades and six hearts, and the play marked him with two diamonds and one club, most likely the ace.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ 754 ♥ 8

2 ♦ A J 10 ♣ K Q J 5 4. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two clubs and he bids two diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: In “Standard” methods, bid two spades. A jump to three spades would be forcing, and you lack the values to force, especially since partner may have a singleton club opposite your honours. If he holds a hand such as A K 8 6 2, 7 6 5, K Q 7 6, 3, game will be impossible, and eight tricks may be the limit.