Unlucky Louie had been to the bank to refinance a loan on some of the property he owns.

“There was a sign in there,” Louie told me. “It said, ‘Ask about our plan for owning your home.’ I think they’re serious.”

Part of Louie’s problem as declarer is that he seldom has a plan. He plays to a couple of early tricks, then starts to think about what to do next. When Louie was today’s South in a penny Chicago game, he dealt himself a hand atypically strong for him. He barreled into six hearts, ignoring East’s three-club overcall.

West led a club, and Louie took the A-K and led a third club. West ruffed in front of dummy with the seven — Louie threw a spade from dummy — and led a diamond. Louie ruffed East’s queen, cashed a high trump and led his last club. Alas, West had the missing trump and ruffed in again. Louie later ruffed his third spade in dummy to escape for down one.

“Next time I’ll double three clubs and take a profit,” Louie said glumly.

Louie could make the slam, but not without some care. At Trick Two he leads a low club and ruffs in dummy when West follows. Louie next comes to his ace of spades and returns his last low club.

If West ruffs — discarding doesn’t help him — dummy throws a spade. Then Louie can win the trump return, take the king of spades and ruff his last spade in dummy. He ruffs a diamond, draws the last missing trump and wins the rest with his remaining high club and high trumps.

West could always beat the slam with a trump opening lead.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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