Bridge: Jan. 6, 2020

Since it was 12 days after Christmas, Unlucky Louie’s wife took a rare break from shopping.

“Her motto,” Louie told me, “is ‘anyone who says money can’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop.'”

Louie could pay his MasterCard bill if he were more careful in his penny games, but he often plays without thinking. At today’s four spades, Louie won the first diamond; ducking might let the defense shift effectively to trumps. He took the A-K of hearts and conceded the third heart, preparing to ruff his fourth heart in dummy.

FOURTH HEART

Louie’s plan looked reasonable, but West discarded a club, and when East led a fourth heart, West pitched his last club. Louie ruffed in dummy and led a trump, but West took the ace, led a diamond to East and ruffed the club return. Down one.

Louie lost a dollar to carelessness. After he takes the ace of diamonds, he must cash his top clubs. He next starts the hearts and is sure to ruff his fourth heart in dummy, securing the contract.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 7 5 H K 7 3 D A 2 C 8 7 5 4 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond 1NT and he bids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner has “reversed” and promises substantial extra strength. You can’t pass. His bid is forcing, and you may have a game or even a slam. To bid 2NT with no strength in either black suit would be misdescriptive. Bid three hearts — partner will know you don’t have four-card support — or three diamonds.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S J 7 5

H K 7 3

D A 2

C 8 7 5 4 2

WEST

S A 8 3 2

H Q 5

D Q J 10 6 3

C 9 3

EAST

S 4

H J 10 9 4

D K 9 8 7

C Q J 10 6

SOUTH

S K Q 10 9 6

H A 8 6 2

D 5 4

C A K

South West North East

1 S Pass 2 S Pass

4 S All Pass

Opening lead — D Q

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