In the club lounge, Unlucky Louie was moaning about a lack of communication at home.

“My wife never listens to me,” Louie said.

“If you think that’s true,” Cy the Cynic advised, “try using the same excuse you used a month ago when you messed up then.”

Against today’s four spades, West led the queen of hearts. Louie, East, took the ace and returned a heart. South won, drew trumps and let the ten of clubs ride. Louie won ... and South claimed five trumps, one heart, a heart ruff in dummy, a diamond and three clubs.

“What’s your excuse for this one?” West asked. “You’re afraid to lead from a king?”

The defenders need four tricks. They have no trumps, one heart and one club. They need two diamonds and may need them before South uses dummy’s clubs for discards.

If South has the queen of diamonds, the contract is probably cold. At Trick Two Louie must shift to diamonds. Whatever South does, he loses two diamonds.

Daily question >> You hold: ? A K J 2 ? 5 4 ? A 6 4 ? A Q J 5. Neither side vulnerable. Your partner deals and opens three hearts. The next player passes. What do you say?

Answer >> Though you might make it on a lucky day, you mustn’t bid 3NT. If partner has a typical hand such as 3, K Q 10 9 6 3 2, 8 7, 8 6 4, the defenders may hold up the ace of hearts, and you won’t be able to use his long suit. Bid four hearts. Then on a lucky day partner will make two overtricks.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

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