DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Unlucky Louie shows up at my club daily for his penny game, so every morning is the dawn of a new error. Louie invariably plays too quickly — and is usually punished.

Louie was declarer at today’s 3NT. (Six diamonds would have had a chance on another day.) West led the jack of spades, and Louie took dummy’s ace and swiftly cashed the king of diamonds, expecting to run six diamond tricks.

When West discarded a heart on the next diamond, Louie was in trouble. He took the A-Q, finessed with the queen of clubs and led the ace and a low heart. West won and led another spade, and Louie could only take the ace of clubs for his eighth trick and give up.

One chance: Louie gave himself one chance when he had two. He must finesse in clubs at Trick Two, then cash the ace and lead a third club. Since East has the doubleton K-10, dummy’s nine furnishes Louie’s ninth trick. If the clubs didn’t lie well, Louie could fall back on a 3-2 diamond break.

This week: more than one chance.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ K85 ♥ A10532 ♦ K5 ♣ A Q 4. You are the dealer. What is your opening call?

Answer: Many experts — perhaps most — would open 1NT. To describe the hand’s strength and approximate shape in a single bid will often be advantageous. Some experts would open one heart. They might have to cope with rebid problems but would not suppress the five-card major suit. I cannot say that either call is correct. Choose as the spirit moves you.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable