“I’ve been calculating my retirement plans,” Unlucky Louie told me. “It seems I can retire at age 62 and live comfortably — for 37 minutes.”

Louie might retire early if he cut his losses in the club’s penny game. He was today’s South, and when West saved at four spades, North pushed on to five hearts. West led a spade, and Louie took dummy’s ace, drew trumps and led a club to his jack. The finesse won, but he still lost a club, a spade and a diamond.

“Partner should double four spades,” Louie grumbled. “We beat it two tricks if I lead the king of diamonds.”

North’s bid was correct in theory. Louie must duck the first spade, win the next and lead a diamond. East plays low, and Louie’;s king wins. Louie continues with a trump to dummy and a club to his jack. He then runs his trumps.

After 10 tricks, dummy has the queen of diamonds and Q-6 of clubs; Louie has a diamond and A-5 of clubs. If Louie judges well, he can win two more tricks however East has discarded.

Daily question: You hold: ? K J 9 7 6 ? None ? A J 10 9 ? K 10 9 3. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. What do you say?

Answer: It is best to get your five-card suit into the game. Overcall one spade. If the player at your left bids two hearts, and two passes follow, double for takeout. If you double first, and the next player raises hearts (maybe to three or four), you will overstate your high-card strength if you double again or bid.

East dealer

N-S vulnerable

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