Unlucky Louie loses heavily at my club, but money doesn't seem to concern him. He says that in the good old days, a person could live beyond his means for half of what it costs now.

When Louie was today's South, he lived beyond his means in the auction. After North's undisciplined raise to three spades, Louie lusted after a vulnerable game bonus and went on.

West led a club, and Louie took the ace and cashed the A-K of trumps hopefully. When East discarded, Louie sighed and conceded down one, off a trump and three hearts.

YOUR PLAY?

You might have stopped at two spades, but how would you play four spades?

Louie could survive his bold bidding. After he takes the top trumps, he leads a diamond to dummy, ruffs a club, leads a diamond to dummy, ruffs a club, ruffs a diamond and ruffs a club. Louie has won nine tricks, and when he leads his last diamond, West can't stop him from scoring one more with dummy's last trump. The defenders' high hearts and high trump fall together.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 6 5 2 H 10 9 3 D A K C A Q 6 3. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. You double, and your partner bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: You can (silently) thank partner for responding in spades, where you have good support, and not in diamonds, where your support is deficient. Still, his bid flexes no muscles; he has fewer than 10 points and may have none. Raise to two spades, showing at least 17 points, but do no more.