Into each life a little rain must fall, usually when you’ve left your car windows down. In Unlucky Louie’s case, the rain often amounts to a deluge.
When I watched today’s deal in a Chicago game, Louie was South. He scraped up a 1NT response to North’s opening bid and found himself raised to game. West led a spade, and Louie won with dummy’s king and led the king of hearts: He expected four heart tricks, two spades and at least three clubs.
West won and led another spade, and Louie won and cashed the queen of hearts — and saw West discard a diamond. When the missing clubs broke 4-2, Louie ended a trick short.
BAD LUCK
“If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have none,” Louie said, employing one of his rainy-day phrases.
West would seldom hold the singleton ace of hearts, but to guard against that possibility costs nothing. Louie should lead a club to his king at the second trick and return a heart toward dummy. When the ace appears, he is safe for at least nine tricks.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S Q 10 7 5 2 H A D K 10 7 C J 8 5 4. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids two diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: This problem is difficult, especially in “Standard” bidding methods. Your partner’s non-jump change of suit covers a wide range of hands: from a shapely 11 or 12 points to 18 points. A conservative pass might be a winning action, but they pay a bonus for bidding and making game. I’d try 2NT.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A K
H K Q J 10 8
D J 4 2
C A 7 3
WEST
S Q 10 7 5 2
H A
D K 10 7
C J 8 5 4
EAST
S J 8 3
H 9 7 6 5 3
D A 9 6
C 10 9
SOUTH
S 9 6 4
H 4 2
D Q 8 5 3
C K Q 6 2
North East South West
1 H Pass 1 NT Pass
3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 5
