Unlucky Louie attributes most of his bad results to bad luck, but occasionally he owns up to his shortcomings.

Louie was declarer at 3NT. I was surprised that he accepted North's invitation. Louie's hand was hardly a minimum, but he seldom makes a close game.

East put up his king on the first spade, and Louie took the ace and led a club. East grabbed his ace to return his last spade, and Louie played low, won the third spade and counted eight tricks. He ran the clubs but then led a heart, and West produced the ace - and three good spades. Down two.

OVERTRICK

"You played too fast," North observed. "Duck the first spade and win the second. When you force out the ace of clubs, East has no more spades, and you have time to set up the hearts for an overtrick."

Louie was distressed, as he should have been, but at least he owned up to the blame - in a way.

"It was just a matter of luck," he sighed. "My opponent was lucky he was playing against an idiot."

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 5 H 6 5 4 2 D Q J 10 9 4 C A 4. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two diamonds, he bids two hearts and you raise to three hearts. Partner next bids three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner has extra strength- he accepted your invitation to game- but he isn't certain which game is best. He probably has six good spades and four not-so-good hearts. Raise to four spades or try 3NT. Partner may hold A Q 9 7 4 2, Q 9 7 3, K, K 5.