"Life is like a doughnut," Unlucky Louie told me with a shrug. "You're either in the dough or in the hole."

Louie had ended the month in his penny game like a bankrupt bakery: no dough. He was today's East - and losing - when he tried to recover by doubling four hearts. When West led the jack of spades, Louie won and returned a spade.

Warned by the double, South left the trumps alone. He led a diamond to the king, ruffed dummy's last spade, took the A-K of clubs and ruffed a club. He led a diamond to the ace and ruffed a diamond.

TRUMP TRICK

South next ruffed a club with the king of trumps. Louie overruffed with the ace - he had no better defense - and led the jack. South took the queen for his ninth trick and ruffed a club with dummy's eight. He was sure of another trump trick, pushing Louie deeper into the hole. (South can succeed even if Louie's trumps are A-J-10-9.)

Louie shouldn't have tempted fate. If he doesn't double, South may go down at four hearts.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K Q H Q 9 3 2 D 6 5 C A K 10 7 3. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two clubs, he bids two diamonds and you try two hearts. Partner next bids three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has 10 or more cards in his suits. Since you haven't limited your strength and so have suggested a good hand, he may have one also. I'd be reluctant to bid 3NT; partner might pass with A J 10 7 6, 4, A K 8 4 2, Q 4. Bid three spades.