DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

I was sitting in the club lounge when Cy the Cynic and Unlucky Louie had this exchange:

“You worry too much,” Louie told Cy. “You always expect the worst. Worry is the darkroom where negatives are developed.”

“You’re always talking about your bad luck,” the Cynic retorted. “Maybe you don’t worry enough.”

Louie was declarer at 6NT in a penny game. West led the 10 of hearts, and Louie saw 13 tricks: five spades, four clubs, three hearts and a diamond. He took the king of hearts and the queen of spades and led a second spade — and West showed out. Louie’s trick total suddenly fell to 11, and as the cards lay, the slam was unmakable.

Louie should have been worried. A 5-1 spade break would occur 14 percent of the time. Louie’s correct play is to win the first heart in dummy and lead a spade, intending to play his eight if East follows low.

If West can win, Louie still succeeds if spades break 4-2. As the cards actually lie, the safety play saves the slam.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ AK943 ♥ A65

◆ 1064 ♣ K Q. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids two diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Slam is possible, but a jump to three hearts would be invitational to game, not forcing. A bid of four hearts would suggest better heart support and would not show 16 good points. Bid three clubs. If partner bids 3NT next, you will try four hearts.