July 2007 - 11

Don't miss these free lectures by some of the game's
top players at the Nashvillle NABC.

Frank's Club

Thursday, July 19
7:15 pm
John Herrmann
Third- and Fourth-seat Openings

This is the first in a series about Frank's Club, where you
will meet some of the characters who populate his syndicated column. This episode is called, "Louie pays up."

Nashville Celebrity Speakers

Friday, July 20
9:15 am
Jerry Helms
"Jerry-isms"
6:45 pm
Frank Stewart
How to See Declarer's Hand
Saturday, July 21
9:15 am
Marti Ronemus
You Can't Embarrass Me!
(No speaker Saturday evening.)
Sunday, July 22
9:15 am
Linda Hanson
Defensive Signals and Carding
6:45 pm
Barbara Seagram
Common Errors in Bidding
Monday, July 23
9:15 am
Mel Colchamiro
How You Can Play Like an Expert
(Without being One)
6:45 pm
Chuck Said
Jacoby and Texas Transfers:
The Case for Each
Tuesday, July 24
9:15 am
Mike Flader
Ruling The Game
6:45 pm
Larry Cohen
Lawful Preemption
Wednesday, July 25
9:15 am
Phillip Alder
Balanced Hands: What Range and Why
6:45 pm
Mike Huston
Overcalls
Thursday, July 26
9:15 am
Allan Mazer
You Have the Right to Remain Silent!
6:45 pm
Haig Tchamitch
Responding To a Takeout Double
Friday, July 27
9:15 am
Barry Harper
Cue Bids and Q Bids
6:45 pm
Coley McGinnis
Takeout Doubles
Saturday, July 28
9:15 am
David Birnbaum
Signals
6:45 pm
Jeff Roman
The Differences between Pairs and Teams
July 2007

Dlr: East
Vul: N-S
 10 3 2
74
952
 J 10 9 6 3

KQ9
63
KQJ73
742
N

W E
S

By Frank Stewart

AJ76
982
 A 10 6
A85

854
 A K Q J 10 5
84
KQ

West

North

Pass
All Pass

2

East
1
Pass

South
1
4

Opening lead: J.
I found Unlucky Louie in the club lounge. He and his
checkbook were having a tag-team match against a pile of
unpaid bills.
"If only I could veto some of these bills," Louie said
glumly, "I might avoid the poorhouse. Look at this. The
Water Board wants their money. They say they've carried
me longer than my mother did. And here's a letter from
the power company saying they'd be delighted if I paid
up - but if I don't, I will be."
That afternoon, Louie tried to prop up his bank balance
in the penny Chicago game, but he wasn't delighted after
this deal. As South, he leaped to 4 when North offered
encouragement with a diamond bid. West led the J.
East took the ace, dropping Louie's queen, and did well
to shift to a low spade. West's 10 forced out the queen,
killing dummy's late entry to the diamonds. Louie drew
trumps and led a diamond, but West signaled with the
2, showing an odd number. East therefore let dummy's
king win, but when Louie came back to his K and led
another diamond to the queen, East won and led a club.
Louie ruffed but lost two spades for down one, slipping a
little deeper into the hole.
"Nice defense," Louie said grudgingly.
How would you play 4?
Louie's contract was unbeatable. After Louie draws
trumps, he takes the K before leading a diamond to the
king. He then ruffs dummy's last club and leads another
diamond to the queen.
When East takes the ace, he has no more clubs. All East
can do is to cash the A, holding Louie to 10 tricks. r
11

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2007