Some players are born pessimists: You can put them at four spades and give them 10 cold tricks on a silver platter and they’ll look for tarnish on the platter.

After all the “bad luck” Unlucky Louie has had, you might think he would be apt to play safe. Louie played at today’s four spades in a penny game, and West led the ten of diamonds (not best).

Louie won with the king and saw 11 easy tricks: six trumps in his hand, two diamonds, two diamond ruffs in dummy and the ace of clubs. So at Trick Two Louie led the ace of diamonds.

Alas, West ruffed and led a trump, and Louie’s contract, not to mention his overtrick, disappeared. Louie could ruff only one diamond in dummy and went down.

It takes fortitude to be a pessimist, but at the second trick Louie should lead a low diamond. If East wins and leads a trump, Louie wins and ruffs his last low diamond in dummy. He takes the ace of clubs, ruffs a club, draws trumps and scores his ace of diamonds to assure the game.

Daily question >> You hold: ? Q 10 ? J 10 7 5 ? 3 2 ? A J 8 6 3. Your partner opens one diamond. The next player bids two spades (preemptive). What do you say?

Answer >> If your opponent had bid one spade, to double (negative) would be clear, showing enough strength to act with a heart suit plus club length or diamond support. Since your opponent bid at the two level, pass. Your hand is too weak to come in, especially since your queen of spades may be wasted for offense.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

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