I’m not a big fan of “wise sayings” but one I firmly believe in is that “you must give in order to receive” . Since this is a bridge column , and since you readers are a pretty bright bunch, you will figure out that I have more than one hand to illustrate the truth of that saying .

First, in its simplest form, you are playing in a no trump contract and have KQJ109 opposite xxx - here every bridge player knows that by giving the opponents the Ace of that suit you will develop another four tricks for yourself .

There are, however, a host of other subtle instances where the approach of giving first will yield results , and with that in mind look at today’s hand (see Figure 1).

South opened a strong 2 clubs , West interfered with 3D ( I like interfering after 2C openings wherever possible to take away responders first bid) and the bidding after that was expert (see Figure2).

The bidding was good and patient. When South bid 4 diamonds he set off a cue bidding sequence and once South knew that North had the hearts controlled he drove to slam.

West led the diamond queen.

Declarer was an experienced player and played the hand carefully. He won the diamond in hand, preserving the entry in dummy, drew trumps and cashed the club Ace.

Now he crossed to dummy with the diamond King and played the Queen of clubs - when East played low declarer pitched a heart and West won. Declarer was, however, in control as the club Jack in dummy provided a parking space for the other losing heart.

The full hand (see Figure 3):

This play is called a “loser-on-loser” play, where declarer knows that it is a short-term loss for a long-term gain .

Of course, if East had the club King and covered the Queen of clubs, declarer would have ruffed, and now had the luxury of trying the heart finesse for an overtrick knowing that the Jack of clubs was still there for a heart discard.

Really good bidding and great play by declarer - most players would have looked at the heart finesse first and even if that lost would look for 2-2 hearts - a high percentage chance of success in those plays, but is is hard to beat the 100 per cent play made by declarer, which guaranteed the contract no matter who had the club King.

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Monday, April 12

1. Julia Beach - Annabelle Mann

2. Jane Clipper - Michael Tait

3. Charles Hall - Bill Pollett

Tuesday, April 13

1. Jean Schilling - Tim Mardon

2. Wenda Krupp - Jane Gregory

3. Veronica Boyce - Carol Eastham

Wednesday, April 14

1. Greta Marshall - Lynanne Bolton

2. Magda Farag - Sheena Rayner

3. Gertie Barker - Jane Smith

Thursday, April 15

1. Elizabeth McKee - Linda Pollett

2. Lynanne Bolton - Peter Donnellan

3. Sharon Shanahan - Claude Guay

Friday, April 16

1. Linda Pollett - Bill Pollett

2. Julia Beach - Pat Colmet

3. Wenda Krupp - Jane Gregory