DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Bridge is a game of mistakes and learning to avoid them. Some players learn from the mistakes of other people. Unlucky Louie is the other people.

Playing at four spades, Louie took the ace of clubs and led a trump to his jack. West won and led a low club, and Louie took the king and tried a diamond to his queen. That finesse failed also.

West cashed the 10 of clubs and led the nine.

Louie ruffed, took the ace of diamonds and ruffed his last diamond in dummy. He drew trumps and let the queen of hearts ride, but East had the king: down one.

“Three finesses lost,” Louie sighed.

Louie contrived to lose all four of his possible losers. He has several winning plays. He can lead a trump to his ace at Trick Two and let the queen of hearts ride.

East wins and returns a club. Louie can win and take the A-J of hearts to pitch his last club, eventually losing a trump, a diamond and a heart.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ 752 ♥ AJ43◆ 62 ♣ A K 7 2. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. You double, and your partner responds with a cue bid of two diamonds. You bid two hearts, and he tries two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s cue bid promised a good hand with strong game interest. If he had 10 or so points, he could have jumped to two spades to invite game, so his actual sequence is stronger. You must not pass. Bid three clubs.