“I can always find things I’m not looking for,” Louie complains.

Louie also has trouble finding things, such as missing queens and jacks, as declarer. When he was South in a penny game, North’s bid of 5NT forced to a small slam and invited a grand slam. Louie signed off at 6NT.

West led a club, and Louie won with the ten, led a diamond to dummy’s king and returned a low diamond to his jack. West won with the queen and led another club.

Louie won and took the ace of diamonds. When East threw a spade, Louie cashed the K-Q of hearts and led a heart to ... his ace. West discarded; down one.

Louie could find the jack of hearts if he took time to count. After he takes the ace of diamonds, he cashes his spade winners and third club. He can find that West had two spades, five clubs and four diamonds, so two hearts. So after Louie takes the K-Q of hearts, he leads a heart to his ten.

Daily question >> You hold: ? A 8 6 ? K Q 7 ? A K 6 2 ? A 6 5. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens three spades. What do you say?

Answer >> Your opponent’s preempt forces you to guess. Bid 3NT. If your partner has nothing, you won’t make it, but you must assume he has a few points. If the opening lead is a spade, you can hold up your ace and hope to neutralize your opponent’s spades. If your partner’s hand is distributional, he can remove to a suit contract.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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