Tournament season soon kicks off at the Bridge Club with the Non Life-Master Pairs being held next Saturday – it is a two-session event and the first session is at 9.30am.

To loosen everyone up for that one, the club will hold a happy hour on Friday from 4pm onwards – show up for that, there will be more smiles at that event than there usually are at the bridge games!

Also, per tournament director Peter Donnellan, on March 6, the regular evening game will be set up as a Junior/Senior game at which the club hopes the regular Thursday players will be joined by some pairs from Tuesday evenings.

Peter said: “On this occasion, as a trial, rather than pairing individual seniors and juniors, we will seat junior pairs East-West and senior pairs North-South, so pairs sitting the same way will be measured against each other.

“The primary aim of this evening, however, is to have an enjoyable game, rather than intensive instruction, and for members to get to know each other a little better!

“Nevertheless, it is an opportunity for juniors to pick up some tips from their opponents, either briefly at the end of a round, if time permits, or afterwards over a drink. We know there are always lessons that can be learnt from every single hand – but, seniors, not too many in one evening, please!

“A sign-up sheet will shortly be posted on the noticeboard to help in planning the game.”

This sounds like an interesting change in format and it would be good to see a full turnout – so sign up now!

Now to the hand – as I’ve written often before, no matter how long one plays this game there is always something new to learn, whether it be in the declarer play, defence, or in the bidding. On today’s hand declarer looked to be placed with a 50-50 guess, until he found a counter.

The bidding looked normal, but was interesting – North opened a diamond, East overcalled a flimsy one heart, and South made the practical-looking bis of 3NT – more on that later.

West led the nine of hearts and declarer was faced with a choice – if East had the diamond Ace, declarer could play low in dummy, win the King and play diamonds and East cannot attack hearts when in. So, that was choice No 1.

Choice No 2 was to duck the first heart all round, playing West for the diamond Ace – now defenders could clear hearts and when West gets in with the diamond Ace she has no hearts left and the hand makes ten tricks.

Which is better? I think Option 1, as the diamond Ace is, on the bidding, more likely to be with East who overcalled a heart. This was the full hand (see Figure 2).

As you can see, Option 1 was the losing option but was the route taken by most declarers.

At one table, however, South made the unusual-looking play of the Queen of hearts at trick one! The heart suit is now frozen!

East has to win the heart, otherwise declarer still has another heart trick to come, but once he wins it he cannot continue hearts without giving declarer two heart tricks and two heart stoppers!

East won and switched to spade but declarer was home with 11 tricks – three spades, eventually a heart, four diamonds and three clubs.

Masterful, innovative, beautiful play at trick one!

Now to the bidding- mainly for the advanced players – when you’ve played the game a long time you know that if partner has either Jack or Queen of hearts, you want to have East on lead – take a look at that and once you are convinced read on.

Given that is the case, I would risk a double with the South hand, hoping partner can bid one no-trump – if he does not, there is always time to bid 3NT at your next turn.

The only danger is that partner goes crazy in spades, but that is hugely unlikely given that you have 17 points and there has been an overcall.

If partner plays the hand in 3NT the heart lead at trick one cannot hurt.

Lovely game isn’t it? So much to think about ….

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

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Thursday, February 13

1. Stephanie Kyme/Charles Hall

2. Judith Bussell/Rachael Gosling

3. Lynanne Bolton/Magda Farag

Friday, February 14

1. Richard Hall/Molly Taussig

2. Sancia Garrison/Jane Smith

3.Stephanie Kyme/Diana Diel

Monday, February 17

North/South

1. Charles Hall/ Tony Saunders

2. Patrick Cerra/Barbara Cerra

3. Louise Rodger/Molly Taussig

East/West

1. Gertrude Barker/Jane Smith

2. Judith Bussell/Diana Diel

3. Sancia Garrison/Margaret Way

Tuesday, February 18

North/South

1. Malcolm Moseley/Mark Stevens

2. Jamie Sapsford/Jane Downing

3. Tracey Pitt/Desiree Woods

East/West

1. Eldon Lewis/Barbara Harrington

2. Chris Van Rooyen/Richard Brunton

3. Vivian Pereira/Carol Eastham

Wednesday, February 19

1. Charles Hall/Magda Farag

2. Stephanie Kyme/Molly Taussig

3. Patricia Siddle/Diana Diel

Thursday, February 20

1. Stephanie Kyme/Charles Hall

2. Peter Donnellan/Margaret Way