BRIDGE

MISFITS traditionally play best (or, at least, less badly) in no-trumps. It looked as though North-South had fallen on their feet on this deal, but a neatly timed defence left South with a nasty decision at the very end of the play.

Playing a Strong Club system North decided to open One Spade. South responded Two Hearts, and North's next bid of Three Clubs left him with little choice but to try Three No-trumps.

West made his natural lead of the queen of diamonds and, after winning on the table, declarer started on clubs. East held off the first round and won the club continuation. Rightly inferring that declarer's communications were strictly limited, East shrewdly cashed his ace of hearts and got off lead with a club.

Declarer cashed dummy's remaining clubs, on which East parted with the eight and ten of hearts. There still seemed no possible danger of losing more than four tricks, and the ace and another spade saw West win with his king. He led another spade and declarer was just about to claim when he realised that dummy had been allowed to win the trick! When, at trick 12, the next spade was won by East's queen, South had a nightmare discard to find - he was down to the two red kings and had to decide what East had kept for his last card. Yes, you have guessed it - he parted with his heart and East came to the setting trick with his two of hearts.