Bridge

THERE WERE two good reasons for West's failing to win the brilliancy prize for best defence with his play on this deal. One was that there was no such prize, the other was that he did not find the killing play until long after the hand was over. Still, he deserves some credit for seeing it at all.

South opened 41, West overcalled with !2, and North raised to 42. Uncertain as to the most helpful way in which to invite game (23, #3, !3, or Two No-trumps?), South threw caution to the winds and jumped directly to game.

West led #Q against 44 and, after declarer won with dummy's king, East followed with the nine. His partner suspected, correctly, that East had started with #4 and that there was no future for the defence in that suit. At trick two declarer led the 410 from the table and ran it to West's queen. There was just a chance, decided West, that his partner was short hearts and held three trumps, so he tried a low heart.

Well, he was partly right. Declarer won with dummy's queen and led a second trump and West was able to give his partner the hoped-for heart ruff. But it was only a losing heart as far as declarer was concerned and, when the clubs behaved, he had 10 tricks.

So, what was the missed brilliancy? Not only must West play his partner for a singleton heart, it has to be the singleton ten! Try !K instead of a low one at trick three. South wins with his ace but now, when West gets in with his other trump trick, he can lead the !J. East is able to ruff dummy's queen and eventually West comes to the setting trick with his !9.

Game all; dealer South

North

410 9 8

!Q 7 4

#K 6 5 3

2K J 4

West East

4A Q 46 3 2

!K J 9 6 3 2 !10

#Q J 10 #9 8 7 4

2Q 9 210 8 6 5 2

South

4K J 7 5 4

!A 8 5

#A 2

2A 7 3