Louie’s lottery ticket

Cy the Cynic was going to a Florida tournament and asked whether he could get us some lottery tickets while he was there.

“With my luck, I’d win nothing,” Unlucky Louie sighed.

“You hit on a 50-to-1 shot in the penny game today,” Cy observed.

Louie had been declarer at 3NT. West led a spade, and Louie captured East’s king and saw 10 likely tricks and certainly no fewer than nine. But when he led a club to dummy’s ace at Trick Two, East discarded a heart, and Louie’s 10 tricks became seven.

LAST SPADE

Louie took the K-Q of clubs and lost a club. West shifted to the ten of diamonds, winning, and then led another spade. When Louie won and conceded another club, West led his last spade. Down two.

“That could happen only to me,” Louie grumbled.

West would hold all five clubs one time in 50 — maybe a little more after East bid spades — but Louie can guard against a foul break. At Trick Two, he should lead the seven of clubs and let it ride if West follows low.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: A Q 6 2 A 5 4 K Q 9 8 7 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond two clubs and he raises to three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: This hand is far too promising to settle for 3NT. If partner has a minimum such as 6 2, A K 8 7 5, 7 6, A J 6 5, you will be a big favorite at six clubs even if the opening lead is not a spade. A direct leap to slam might work well. If you prefer careful investigation, start with a bid of three diamonds. South dealer N-S vulnerable