In my club’s penny game, Unlucky Louie was today’s South. When he opened 1NT, North’s two diamonds was a “transfer.” Louie duly bid two hearts, and North tried three clubs (forcing) next. Louie liked his aces and four cards in hearts and jumped to game.

West led the king of spades, and Louie took the ace and led the ace and a low trump. East took the queen and king (not best) and led a spade, forcing dummy to ruff. Louie next led the queen of clubs for a finesse, and West won and led a diamond. Louie could have played for a 3-3 club break, but that was against the odds: He played a low diamond from dummy, and East’s king won the setting trick.

“Trumps broke 3-1 and two finesses lost,” Louie growled, “plus the clubs broke 4-2. My luck is so bad I could get mugged by a Quaker.”

Most partnerships would treat North’s three clubs — the bid of a new suit after a transfer — as forcing. Personally, I think the bid is better played as invitational. Then North can invite game with a minimum two-suited hand, and the partnership can play at three clubs if South lacks heart support.

As to the play, after East forces dummy to ruff a spade at Trick Four, Louie does best to lead a club to his ace and return a club. If West takes the king, Louie has 10 tricks; if West plays low, Louie attacks the diamonds and wins three diamonds, three trumps in dummy, two clubs, one club ruff in his hand and the ace of spades.

If East has the king of clubs, Louie can still hope to set up the clubs or win a diamond finesse.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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