BRIDGE

“Every time I think I’m winning the game of life,” Unlucky Louie gripes, “there’s a flag on the play.”

Louie blames his bad results on bad luck despite all the evidence to the contrary. In today’s deal, Louie and North got to a fine 6NT with only 30 high-card points. West led the 10 of hearts: queen, king, ace.

Louie started the spades, and West won the third spade and led another heart. Louie discarded a diamond from dummy and took his jack.

Louie next led the king and a low diamond. A 3-2 break would have seen him home, but West threw a heart. Louie came back to his ace of clubs, cashed his good spade and won a club finesse with the jack, but dummy had a diamond loser. Down one.

I’d have flagged Louie for illegal (or at least inaccurate) procedure. He must start the diamonds with the ace and king. Then he can finesse with the jack of clubs, cash the queen of diamonds, take the K-A of clubs, and win the last two tricks with a spade and the 13th club.

Question: You hold: ♠ A5 4 ♥ 1098752 ♦ 10 ♣ Q 9 5. Your partner opens 1NT (15 to 17 points), and the next player passes. What do you say?

Answer: Before the advent of transfer responses, this type of hand was a major headache. Bid two diamonds, asking your partner to transfer to two hearts. Then raise to three hearts to invite game. Before you adopt this or any other conventional method, be sure to discuss it thoroughly with your partner.