Daily Bridge Club

Louie gets creamed

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Unlucky Louie had driven by a church with one of those changeable signs out front.

“It spoke directly to me,” Louie sighed. “What did it say?” “‘God always has another cream pie up His sleeve.’”

Everything happens to Louie. When he was declarer at today’s 3NT, he won the first heart in dummy and led a diamond to his jack. West took the king, pondered and shifted to a spade: ten, jack, ace.

Louie next took the A-Q of diamonds. When East discarded, Louie cashed his clubs, but at the 10th trick, he had to lead a heart. West won and led another spade, and East had the rest. Down one. FIRST HEART

Louie mistimed and was hit with a cream pie. He should win the first heart in his hand and lead a low diamond. If West wins, Louie has nine tricks. If West ducks, Louie can force out the ace of hearts to assure his game. And if East had the king of diamonds, he couldn’t lead a spade effectively, and Louie would have time to set up nine winners.

This week: all in good timing. DAILY QUESTION You hold: Q 10 4 K Q 3 Q 6 4 K Q 6 2. Neither side

vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have 14 highcard points and should pass all 14 of them. This hand is better oriented for defense, especially since the queen of diamonds is more likely to win a defensive trick. I would be ashamed to table this hand as dummy if I doubled one diamond for takeout and forced my partner to bid. North dealer N-S vulnerable