As things wind down towards Christmas there are still a few events on the Bridge Club calendar, as per this message from Peter Donnellan, the chief tournament director.

“The Junior Teams Championship match is rescheduled for December 12 at 7pm. Teams of four should sign up at the club (or e-mail me) before the preceding weekend. If you are a lapsed member and wish to rejoin and play in this event, you need to renew your membership – please contact Richard Gray. We will need a minimum of four teams to go ahead.

“The Novice Pairs Championship, for members with less than 20 master points, is being planned for December 19 at 7pm. A sign-up sheet will be posted nearer the time.

“Sandwiched between these two is the Ernie Owen Individual Pairs on December 14 at 7pm.”

Today’s hand contains another of those pieces of bridge magic, one which was produced by a declarer who kept a calm head, listened to the bidding and then executed perfectly as he could, in effect, “see” all four hands (see Figure 1).

This deal came up in a world-class team game and both South players declared four hearts after the auction shown. In the Open Room the defenders began with the Ace, King and Jack of clubs.

The first declarer ruffed this low and then cashed the Ace of trumps. Noting that his partner had discarded a discouraging spade, East paused to think. It was then that he realised he might be end-played with a trump to lead a diamond into dummy’s tenace.

So, he followed to the first trump with the six. Declarer continued with the Ace and King of trumps while East followed each time with his highest trump, keeping his three of trumps.

Now declarer led the four of trumps and was surprised when it held. As a result declarer could not avoid two spade losers – one down! Wonderful defence by West!

In the Closed Room, declarer was a step ahead of everyone and correctly ruffed the third club with his nine of trumps. Then South played the Ace, King and Queen of trumps, and again East followed with his three highest trumps.

As East and West were playing five-card majors, declarer cashed his Ace of spades. When East followed with the two, declarer counted him for an original 1=4=6=2 shape – this was the end position (see Figure 2).

In order to confirm this, declarer played the King of spades. East delayed the inevitable by discarding a diamond rather than ruffing with his remaining trump. However, the two of trumps was declarer’s next lead. East had to win this and lead a diamond – the forced diamond return allowed declarer to take two diamond tricks while shedding his two losing spades. Declarer had taken ten tricks – two spades, six trumps and two diamonds – as required.

He had made two diamond tricks in a dummy he could not reach on his own, all by letting a defender win the fourth round of trumps with the three! Magical all round.

• David Ezekiel can be reached at davidezekiel999@gmail.com

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, November 17

North/South

1. Jane Smith-Margaret Way

2. Tony Saunders-Patricia Siddle

East/West

1. Aida Bostelmann-Heather Woolf

2. Martha Ferguson-Molly Taussig

Monday, November 20

1. Margaret Way-Rachael Gosling

2. Sheena Rayner-Elysa Burland

3. Joseph Wakefield-Stephanie Kyme

Tuesday, November 21

North/South

1. Duncan Silver-Marion Silver

2. Felicity Lunn-Frances McManus

East/West

1. Benjamin Stone-Mark Stevens

2. Jean Schilling-John Thorne

Wednesday, November 22

North/South

1. William Pollett-Linda Pollett

2. Patricia Siddle-Diana Diel

East/West

1. Stephan Cosham-Rachael Gosling

2. Gertrude Barker-Jane Smith

Thursday November 23

1. John Glynn-Stephen Cosham

2= David Petty-Delton Outerbridge

2= Betsy Baillie-William Pollett