“All those who hate speeding tickets, raise your right foot.” -graffiti

Unlucky Louie wouldn’t lose as much in his penny game if he understood that no extra points are awarded for speed. Louie plays as if the idea is to get in as many deals as possible, and the result is more of his “bad luck.”

As South, Louie roared into six hearts, a fine spot. He won the first spade with the king and cashed the ace of trumps, sighing when East discarded. Louie then had 11 tricks and needed a winning minor-suit finesse for one more. He shrugged, led a spade to dummy and tried a club to his jack. West won and cashed his king of trumps.

Louie’s play was hasty - and wrong; he can try both finesses. Louie should lead to the ace of diamonds at Trick Three, then take the A-Q of spades to pitch his last diamond and exit with a trump.

When West wins, he is stuck. If he leads a club, Louie gets a free finesse; if West leads a diamond, Louie tries dummy’s queen. If East had the king, Louie could still finesse in clubs.

Daily question: You hold: ? A Q 6 ? 10 9 7 4 ? A Q 3 ? Q 10 5. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he raises to two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner has minimum opening values. He will often have four-card heart support but may have raised you with good three-card support and unbalanced or semibalanced pattern. You certainly have enough for game, but bid 3NT to offer partner a choice of games. With a hand such as 54,Q83,K54,AKJ76, he will pass.

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