Unlucky Louie is always moaning about the commercialization of the holidays.

“I can’t believe how much stuff we’ve ordered,” Louie told me. “If Amazon shows up at my house with a horse, well ... it is what it is.”

Louie might be more tolerant of spending money if he lost less in his penny game. As today’s West, he led the four of spades against 3NT. Declarer won with the ten and next led the jack of hearts. Louie reflexively played low; it appeared that South might be about to lose a finesse. But the jack won.

South then led a diamond. Louie took the ace and led another spade, but South won, forced out Louie’s ace of clubs and had three spades, three diamonds, two clubs and a heart.

Louie erred. He had 14 points and dummy had 14. South would not have acted with 10 points, so East couldn’t have the queen of hearts.

Louie must grab his ace and lead another spade. When he takes the ace of diamonds, he leads a third spade. South has only eight tricks, and when Louie gets in with the ace of clubs, he cashes two spades. Down one.

Daily question: You hold: ? Q 6 5 4 2 ? A 8 2 ? A 5 ? A 10 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

Answer: A jump-preference to three hearts would be fine were it forcing, but in most partnerships it would be invitational. A jump to four hearts is possible. An option is to bid two diamonds, a “fourth-suit” call to let partner make another descriptive bid. Slam is possible. If he holds 7, K Q J 9 5, K 7 6, K Q 8 2, six hearts would be a reasonable contract.

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