The Bridge community in Bermuda is one large family, and it is with shock and great sadness that we learned last week of the sudden and untimely death of long-time member Marilynn Simmons, and at the same time the ill health of her husband Delmont.

The news is not just hugely sad, but for me somewhat overwhelming — Marilynn and Delmont have been hugely popular members of the club for many years and long-time friends of my family, and were our first Bermudian friends when we moved to the island in the 1970s — they often popped through the hedge at Inwood to come over for a game of Bridge and in return hosted us frequently. Delmont also delivered my two children and I got to know the whole family well.

The Simmonses were regulars and fixtures at the club for many years — Marilynn and Delmont often partnered each other and found the formula of keeping things on an even keel at the table, something not all married couples are able to achieve. Marilynn’s regular partner for many years was Lady Swan and they had many successes in the club games over the years.

Marilynn will be hugely missed and our thoughts are with her and her family through this awful period of grieving, and at the same time having the anxiety of having Delmont in hospital — we all wish him a swift and full recovery. The Simmonses are a quality family and Delmont, Rhonda, Kim and Richmond will be in our thoughts.

I believe funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

This week’s hand contains a theme that reoccurs time and time again at the table — declarer has crucial plays in two suits and has to decide how to play them. On one play he has a choice of plays, and on the other he doesn’t, so he plays the no-choice one first and the outcome then tells him what he needs to do on the second. See the hand in Figure 1 and the bidding in Figure 2.

North’s two-notrump response was Jacoby, promising a game-going hand with four-card spade support. South showed a non-minimum and denied any shortage by bidding three spades and North continued with a non-serious slam try by control-bidding his king of diamonds, denying a club control. South then drove to the spade slam via a Blackwood key-card enquiry.

West led the Jack of hearts. Declarer saw that he had two potential losers in trumps and another in clubs. The question declarer faced was which black suit he should play first.

A trump to the Ace would succeed if the King of trumps were singleton. Otherwise, declarer would need to play the clubs without losing a trick. Consequently, declarer took the first trick with dummy’s Queen of hearts and then led a low club to his Queen.

When that held, declarer could almost ensure 12 tricks by playing the King of hearts to dummy’s Ace to lead a low trump toward his hand.

When East followed with the five of trumps, declarer covered with the six — when that held, declarer claimed 12 tricks.

This was a classic case of combining one’s chances: if the club finesse was successful, declarer could afford to take the safety play in trumps and by leading up from dummy can always limit spade losses to one. If the Club finesse lost, he would need the king of trumps to be singleton with either defender and would play it that way by simply laying down the trump Ace.

Nice clear thinking from declarer!

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, October 21

1. Wendy Gray - Richard Gray

2. Rachel Gosling - Edward Betteto

3. Molly Taussig - Bill Pollett

Saturday, October 22

Club Championship Team Event

Winning team: Elizabeth McKee, Bill Pollett, Edward Betteto, John Burville

Monday, October 24

North/South

1. Rachel Gosling - Peter Donnellan

2. Donna Leitch - Kathleen Keane

3. Wendy Gray - Richard Gray

East/West

1. Ed Betteto - John Burville

2. Martha Ferguson - Marge Way

3. Diana Diel - Dorry Lusher

Tuesday, October 25

North/South

1.Katyna Rabain - Louise Payne

2.Rosemary Smith - Felicity Lunn

3.Barbara Elkin - Neil Gilbertson

East/West

1.Wenda Krupp - Jane Gregory

2.Amanda Ingham - Heidi Dyson

3.Nikki Boyce - Carol Eastham

Wednesday, October 26

North/South

1. Lisa Rhind - Jack Rhind

2. Tony Saunders - Charles Hall

3. Rachael Gosling - Ed Betteto

East/West

1. Martha Ferguson - Sancia Garrison

2. Tracy Nash - Desmond Nash

3. Pat Siddle - Diana Diel

Thursday, October 27

1. Rachael Gosling - John Glynn

2. Betsy Baillie - Delton Outerbridge

3. Elizabeth McKee - Linda Pollett