Murphy takes over

UNLUCKY Louie may be the world’s foremost proponent of Murphy’s Law. He insists (for example) that no matter how long you shop for an item, the day after you buy it, it will go on sale somewhere for less.

When I watched today’s deal in a penny game, Louie was declarer at four hearts, and West led a helpful ace of diamonds. Louie ruffed in dummy and counted 11 more tricks: five trumps, five clubs and the king of diamonds.

So Louie took the A-Q of trumps and led a club, and whatever can go wrong, will – and did. East ruffed, led a spade to West, ruffed the club return and cashed the king of spades. Down one!

UNLUCKY

“You can’t deny that was unlucky,” Louie grumbled to me. Was he unlucky or unskillful?

After Louie takes the ace of trumps, he must overtake the queen with his king. West discards, but the contract is safe. Louie cashes the jack of trumps and leads a club to the king, guarding against a 4-0 club break. The defense can get only two spades and a trump.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ A93

♥2 ♦ A 10 8 7 2 ♣ J 7 6 5. Your partner opens one heart, you respond 1NT and he bid two diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: A raise to three diamonds would not be far off the mark, but the hand has really become too promising for a chance-giving raise. Your best bid is two spades, showing spade values and a hand that your partner’s second bid improved. If his second bid had been two clubs, you would settle for a raise to three.

North dealer Both sides vulnerable