DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“Harlow got me again,” Unlucky Louie sighed. “Against him and his luck, the best I can do is a tie.”

While Louie contends with bad luck, the player we call Harlow the Halo is Fortune’s Favorite. His errors never cost.

In a team match, both Louie and Harlow played at six hearts. The Halo took the ace of clubs and led a diamond to his queen, and West won and led a trump. Harlow had only 11 tricks, but he took the ace of diamonds, ruffed a diamond, ruffed a club and ran his trumps.

At the end, Harlow had a diamond and two spades. Dummy had A- K- 9 of spades. East couldn’t save the jack of diamonds and three spades, so Harlow made the slam.

Louie’s line was different: He took the ace of clubs, drew trumps and played a low spade from both hands. He ruffed the club return and ran the spades.

Louie needed a normal 3- 2 spade break. Harlow needed the diamond finesse or an unlikely squeeze. Louie’s play was simpler, probably better; Harlow, as usual, was luckier.

ANSWER: Slam is possible even if partner has minimum values. In fact, if he has an ideal minimum such as seven diamonds will be all but cold. Tell him that slam is likely: - shift to two hearts and support the diamonds next. You don’t need 19 points for a jump- shift, only slam interest and a promising trump suit. North dealer N-S vulnerable