ETCETERA / Bridge

THERE is an old story of a defender who had to discard from the J 10 9 of hearts and wished to discourage his partner from leading the suit. As even the nine could easily be misinterpreted, he solved the problem by dropping it on the floor. When his attempts to retrieve it from under the table continued interminably, declarer impatiently asked what he was proposing to play. 'A small heart]' was the reply.

A small heart featured on this deal from the recent Championships in Menton.

Love all; dealer West

North

S J 10

H 2

D J 9 6 4

C A Q J 10 9 7

West

S K Q 5 4 2

H Q 9 8 6

D 10 5 2

C 2

East

S 7 6

H J 10 5

D K Q 7 3

C K 6 5 3

South

S A 9 8 3

H A K 7 4 3

D A 8

C 8 4

South played in Three No-trumps after West had overcalled in spades. The lead of the four of spades, won in dummy, did declarer no harm and she continued with the queen of clubs.

East allowed this to hold and it was clear to declarer that there was no future in the long club suit and that it was time to turn her attention to the hearts. The two from dummy was covered by the five and declarer played the three] The point was that all of the missing hearts were higher than East's five and West would be forced to overtake.

Reluctant to concede a ninth trick immediately, West returned a heart but the fourth round of the suit left her on lead again. This time she tried a diamond but when East's queen lost to the ace and a finesse against the ten of diamonds forced the king, it was all over.

East would certainly have done much better to have played a heart honour on the first round of the suit, though - if she reads the situation exactly - delcarer can still get home.