Unlucky Louie sat down for a penny game and announced that he needed to win for a change.

"My wife went to Macy's, clutching her credit card," Louie sighed. "Her creed is, 'There's only one shopping day left until tomorrow.'"

Louie began badly. He declared at five hearts, and West led the king of spades. Louie threw a diamond on dummy's ace, drew trumps and finessed with the queen of diamonds. East took the king and led a club: jack, queen. Louie won West's diamond return and tried a club to his ten, but West produced the king. Down one.

FIRST TRICK

Tomorrow came early for Louie; he played too fast at Trick One. He should let West's king of spades win and pitch a diamond. If West leads a second spade, Louie discards another diamond on the ace, takes the ace of diamonds, ruffs a diamond, leads a trump to dummy and ruffs a diamond.

Louie then returns a trump to dummy and leads a club to his ten. West wins but must lead from his other club honor or concede a ruff-sluff.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K Q 10 8 7 3 H 3 D 7 4 C K Q 9 7. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he rebids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: This hand has great trick-taking potential, but the possible lack of a good trump fit is discouraging. A bid of three clubs would be forcing and might commit you to game (partner might bid 3NT next). Jump to three spades, invitational. If partner has a hand such as J 6, A K 8 7 4 2, A 8 3, J 5, he'll raise.