Chicago Sun-Times

DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

- BY FRANK STEWART

In my club’s penny game, Unlucky Louie, he of unending misfortune, was today’s South. He and North got to a notrump slam that was all but cold. West led the 10 of diamonds, and East took the ace and returned a diamond.

Louie won and swiftly cashed the queen of spades, preparing to claim — and darkness descended when West showed out. Louie had only 11 tricks. He tried the A-K of hearts, but when the queen didn’t fall, he went down.

“I thought the spades were good,” Louie sighed.

“Don’t believe everything you think,” Cy the Cynic advised him.

Louie was unlucky. East would have J-9-7-4 in spades only one time in 20. Still, Louie erred. He must take the ace of hearts at the third trick, cash four clubs to pitch a heart, then lead a spade to his queen. When West discards, Louie takes the king of hearts and, at Trick 10, his last high diamond.

East has room for three cards. He can’t keep his queen of hearts and guard his jack of spades, so Louie is home.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ Q2 ♥ KJ63 ♦ KQ32 ♣ A K 4. The dealer, at your right, opens two spades (a weak two-bid). You double, and your partner responds three hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Given that your queen of spades is worthless, your hand is not much stronger than your double suggested. Since partner’s hand may be weak, pass. Some pairs would treat his three hearts as encouragin­g; they use an artificial 2NT response to show a weak hand. North dealer

Both sides vulnerable

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