Bernie
â™ A K Q 7 6 2
♥ A J 9
♦ 8
♣ 5 3 2
Stepec
â™ 8 5
♥ 4 2
♦ Q 2
♣ K Q J 10 8 7 6
Dicko
â™ J 10 9 4 3
♥ K Q 7 3
♦ A 9 4
♣ A
Mary mary
â™ -
♥ 10 8 6 5
♦ K J 10 7 6 5 3
♣ 9 4
Dicko |
Bernie |
Stepec |
Mary mary |
|
|
Pass |
2♦ |
Dbl |
2â™ |
3♣ |
3♦ |
Pass |
Pass |
4♣ |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
|
|
Mary led ♦J and after some agonising I let this run to my ♦Q. I felt sure Bernie would hold ♥A, so I thought I’d got it made now. I would lose just two spades and the ace of hearts.
I crossed to ♣A and with no way back to hand, led ♥K. Now Bernie led the ace of spades. I was waiting to lose the second round of spades, then ruff the third round high, draw trumps and claim. But Bernie had a long think and then led a small spade instead of ♠K. Mary ruffed, of course, and played a diamond for Bernie to ruff. One down!
It’s an obvious defence looking at all four hands – but I’m not sure I’d have thought of it in time as North. Would you?
♠♥ ♣ ♦ ♠♥ ♣ ♦ ♠♥ ♣ ♦ ♠♥ ♣ ♦ ♠♥ ♣ ♦ ♠♥ ♣ ♦ â™