Games: Bridge

Love all; dealer South

North

4K

!K Q 4 3

#K Q 8 6 4

2J 7 2

West East

4Q 10 8 5 4 42

!A 8 2 !J 10 9 6

#9 5 2 #A 7 3

2K 9 2Q 10 6 5 3

South

4A J 9 7 6 3

!7 5

#J 10

2A 8 4

Today, a return to the art of making "impossible" contracts. Yes, of course the defenders could have done better, but this does not detract from South's opportunism.

Not playing Weak Twos (for which his hand was a little heavy anyhow) and thoroughly bored at the end of a depressing run of poor hands, South decided to open One Spade. There was no escape now: South rebid his spades over Two Diamonds and felt compelled to try Three No-trumps when his partner's next bid was Three Hearts. He was given a little breathing space when West led !2 and dummy's king held, but future prospects were gloomy.

At trick two, declarer led a diamond to his jack and continued the suit, overtaking on the table. East took the second diamond and switched to 25 which went to the four, king and two. After playing low from dummy on the club return, South won the ten with his ace. Then he crossed to 4K and, on testing the diamonds, was relieved to find them breaking 3- 3. That was still only seven tricks for now; of course, declarer was cut off from his spades.

Salvation was at hand. When the last two diamond tricks were cashed, East mistakenly assumed that his partner held another club and, instead of parting with a heart and a club (as he should), he discarded two hearts while West threw two spades. Still uncomfortably on the table, declarer read the position well and led !Q, pinning East's jack and keeping him off lead. West won and was able to cash !8, but now, in the two card ending, was forced to lead a spade from his queen into South's AJ tenace.