Bridge - March 9

Unlucky Louie had visited the track.

"I bet on a horse at 20 to 1," Louie growled.

"How'd he do?"

"He finished at 2:15."

Louie tried to recoup at today's slam. He took the ace of hearts and, seeking ruffs in dummy, cashed the top clubs, ruffed a club, returned a heart to his king and led his last club. When West followed, Louie discarded dummy's last heart instead of ruffing. But West led a third heart, and when dummy ruffed with the nine, East overruffed.

BETTER ODDS

Louie's play required friendly breaks. Could he get better odds?

If West had the A-K of diamonds, he would have led a high diamond. Louie can win the first heart in his hand, draw trumps ending in dummy and lead the queen of diamonds, pitching a heart. West wins and leads another heart, and Louie takes the ace and leads another diamond, ruffing East's king.

Louie then takes the top clubs, ruffs a club and discards two losers on the good diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 8 H Q J 10 8 D A 7 5 2 C J 9 6 5. Your partner opens one spade, you respond 1NT and he bids two diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: If partner had bid two hearts, you would raise to three hearts, trying for the 10-trick game. But though he may have extra strength, game at diamonds or notrump is too far away to make an aggressive move. At a diamond contract, your heart honors and jack of clubs may be useless. Pass.