Unlucky Louie, whose second grand passion is fishing, says there's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like a dummy. There's also a fine line between safe play and an "unsafety play."

Today's declarer took the ace of clubs and executed a safety play by cashing the ace of trumps. He next led a club to the king and returned a second trump.

West took the jack and king and led another club. South threw a diamond on the queen and cashed the A-K of diamonds. When West showed out, South could ruff two hearts in dummy but had two hearts to lose. Down one.

TRUMP LOSERS

It was safe to cash the ace of trumps (guarding against a bare king with West), but South's second trump lead was unsafe. He could afford two trump losers but couldn't let West draw two of dummy's trumps. South should lead a heart at Trick Three.

The defense is helpless. If East wins and leads a club, South proceeds to cash winners and ruff hearts in dummy. He loses two trumps and a heart.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 7 6 5 3 2 H 6 D K 6 5 2 C K Q 4. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he rebids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: I hope you regarded this "problem" with disdain. You must pass. Partner has minimum values with six or more hearts, game is impossible, and a contract of two hearts may offer your last chance for a plus. If partner had jumped to three hearts, you'd have a problem; you'd have a close decision between a pass and a bid of 3NT.