“I need a loan,” Unlucky Louie told me in the club lounge.

“Again?” I asked. Louie is always having out-of-money experiences. Admittedly, he always pays me back what I lend him.

“My mom told me to work until my bank balance looked like a telephone number,” Louie said ruefully.

“What’s your balance now?” I wanted to know.

“$9.11,” Louie sighed.

Louie could prop up his bank balance if he weren’t a consistent loser in his penny game. (He blames his losses on bad luck, despite all the evidence.) As today’s South he leaped to six spades at his second turn, reasonably enough. West led his singleton heart, and — delighted with the free finesse — Louie captured East’s queen and swiftly led a trump. Alas for him, East took the ace and returned a heart ... and West ruffed!

Louie pitched 1530 points — more than worth his current bank balance. Since the danger of a heart ruff is clear, Louie should win the first heart with dummy’s king and discard his A-J of hearts on the A-K of diamonds. Then he can lead a trump safely.

Daily question >> You hold: ? J 5 ? K 6 5 3 ? A K 8 ? K 9 7 3. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. You double, and your partner bids three hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer >> Partner’s jump invites game; he has about 10 points and may have only four hearts. Your decision is close; your king of clubs may be worth as much as an ace. But you have no extra high-card strength, and your jack of spades is probably “wasted.” You might risk a raise to four hearts if vulnerable. Otherwise, pass.

North dealer

Both sides vulnerable

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