Louie’s rare ability

“Louie has that rare ability to bring out the best in a partnership,” Rose told me in the club lounge. “Unfortunately, it’s usually his opponents.”

Rose has taken on Unlucky Louie as a project, insisting that he is better than his results show.

“Look at this deal,” Rose said. “I was North. We got to four hearts after West overcalled on a four-card suit and I made a negative double. West took two spades and led a club.”

SPADES

“Louie was South. He won with the ace and led a trump — and West played the queen! Louie took dummy’s king but thought he couldn’t draw all the trumps, leaving him with none. If he then lost a diamond finesse, the defense would cash spades. So Louie led a diamond to his queen next.”

West took his king and led another club. East ruffed and led a diamond, and West ruffed. Down two.

“Remarkable defense,” I said. “But it seems Louie could have afforded a second round of trumps.”

Rose nodded sadly. She may be getting discouraged with Louie.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: 8 7 A 10 9 5 A Q 9 8 7 A 4. You open one diamond, and your partner responds one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your options are limited. A rebid of two diamonds would suggest a six-card suit, and a bid of two hearts would be a “reverse” that would promise at least a king more strength. Bid 1NT to show a minimum, balanced opening bid. Your pattern isn’t precisely balanced, but semibalanced will have to do.

South dealer

Neither side vulnerable