“How are your stocks doing?” I asked Unlucky Louie, who is forever beating his head against Wall Street.
“I need a better broker,” Louie said glumly. “Mine thinks the Great Depression ended with the invention of Prozac.”
Louie was depressed after today’s deal. As declarer at four hearts, he ruffed the second spade and took the A-J of trumps. He would have had no problem if the trumps had split 3 for 2 like a good stock, but the actual 4-1 split was a problem. If Louie spent all his trumps to draw trumps, he would have no entry to his long clubs.
DOWN ONE
So Louie tried to cash dummy’s high clubs. Alas, East ruffed the third club and led a diamond. Down one.
“They could have made four spades,” Louie said, trying to find a bright side.
Louie could have made a killing at four hearts with more care. After West discards on the second trump, Louie should take only the A-K of clubs. He next draws trumps, pitching dummy’s queen of clubs on the fourth trump, and is safe.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A K 10 5 H 4 D A Q J 10 4 C 10 9 6. Your partner opens one heart, you respond two diamonds, he rebids two hearts and you try two spades. Partner next bids three diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your partner’s bidding is not encouraging, and you have three possible fast losers in the unbid suit. Still, if he has a suitable minimum hand such as Q 6 4, A K 10 7 6, K 7 6, J 7, you can make five diamonds. Bid four diamonds, hoping he will judge correctly.
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S 8 7 3 2
H Q 9 8
D 6 5 2
C A K Q
WEST
S A K 10 5
H 4
D A Q J 10 4
C 10 9 6
EAST
S Q J 9 6
H 7 6 3 2
D 9 8 3
C 4 2
SOUTH
S 4
H A K J 10 5
D K 7
C J 8 7 5 3
South West North East
1 H Dbl Redbl 1 S
2 C 2 S 4 H All Pass
Opening lead — S K
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