“It finally happened,” Unlucky Louie exulted in the club lounge. “Harlow’s luck ran out.”

While Louie labors under a cloud of unending bad luck, the player we call Harlow the Halo is fortune’s favorite son. His finesses always win and his errors never cost.

“In a team match,” Louie told me, “Harlow and I both played at four hearts, and West led the jack of trumps. The Halo took the K-A and next led a club from dummy. For once, his inspiration failed him: He played the jack. West took the queen and led a club to East’s ace, and they also got a trump and a spade.”

BETTER PLAY

Louie found a better play. He won the first trump in dummy and immediately led a spade to his jack. West won and returned a spade to Louie’s ace. Louie then cashed the king of trumps and, when East discarded, started the diamonds. Eventually, he threw West in with his trump trick to lead a club or concede a ruff-sluff. Making four.

“I guess Harlow will start a new lucky streak tomorrow,” Louie sighed.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ AJ ♥ K 8 4 3 2 ♦ A K 10 4 ♣ K J. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Drat those preempts anyway! They can pose problems ranging from awkward to impossible. You must act, hoping your partner has some points. To double for takeout might work; he might obligingly respond in hearts or diamonds. Still, a club response would be unpleasant. Bid 3NT and hope for a helpful dummy.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable