I had a chance to stop by the Bermuda Bridge Club Christmas Party last Saturday and it was clearly an immense success. From all accounts, the food was excellent as were all the post-dinner games and whoever was responsible for transforming the usually neon-lit playing area into an intimate dining area deserves congratulations.

The party always serves as the annual prizegiving, and in addition to the club championship awards there are four prizes awarded on the night. The Senior Player of the Year Award was won in fine fashion by Vera Petty and likewise the Junior Player of the Year Award by Ray McDaid.

The Most Improved Player Award is selected by the Board members and was deservedly won by Kevin Comeau, who managed to take an already good game to another level and this showed in his 2007 results.

Lastly, the Millington Trophy for the Most Amiable Player is voted for by the members and the popular and overwhelming choice was Sharon Popko, who manages to carry her delightful personality to the bridge table not something many others can achieve!

Congratulations to all these four and to all of those who received their trophies for their Championship wins in 2007.

As noted last week, this Sunday sees the two- session Bermuda National Teams at the Bridge Club, and I'll bring you the results in next week's column.

This week's hand needs a bit of concentration to work out the best line of play, but it is all about being prepared to lose a trick in order to create enough entries to dummy in order to set up a winner.

Dealer North. Neither Vulnerable:

North

" 6 3

A K 8 6 2

A 10 6

8 4 2

West East

" 10 9 8 " 7 5

10 7 3 Q J 9 4

8 4 2 Q 9 5 3

K J 7 5 10 9 3

South

" A K Q J 4 2

5

K J 7

A Q 6

West North East South

1 Pass 2"

Pass 2NT Pass 3"

Pass 4" Pass 4NT

Pass 5 Pass 5NT

Pass 6 Pass 6"

Pass Pass Pass

The bidding was straightforward once North decided to open on his three-quick-trick hand. South jump-shifted, then inquired about key cards. His five no trump was a grand slam try, promising all the key cards. After North cue bid the king of hearts, denying a minor-suit king, South contented himself with a small slam.

This is a classic type of forced entry hand. South plays six spades on a trump lead. Declarer draws trumps, throwing a club from the table, then plays the ace and king of hearts, discarding a club from hand.

After a heart ruff reveals that suit to be 4-3, declarer can make certain of his contract by leading the jack of diamonds next. If West has the queen, South makes three diamond tricks to go along with his nine winners in the other suits. And if West makes the mistake of covering the jack, South has the extra entry needed to set up the hearts for an overtrick.

When East takes the jack of diamonds with the queen, declarer wins the club return with the ace and overtakes the king of diamonds with the ace to ruff a heart. Finally, he crosses to dummy with the ten of diamonds to cash the established heart for his 12th trick.

Strangely, East does best to duck the diamond jack. Now if declarer is greedy and plays a diamond to the ten, East pounces. South is denied the two entries needed to set up and enjoy the 13th heart, and is embarrassed by winning the diamond finesse but taking only two tricks in the suit! Of course, South should not fall for this ploy since West can foil the entry position by playing the queen on the second round of diamonds if declarer leads low.

Easy once you spot it but would you?