Playing bridge at the top level of the game is a bit like walking a tightrope – you might think you have it all covered but one slip of concentration or brief lack of focus and the next thing you know you have your head in your hands.

This fate befell the first declarer on this deal (see Figure 1).

West led the Jack of spades, which was covered by the Queen, King and Ace. Declarer saw that if East held the King of diamonds, he could make his contract by taking four diamond tricks.

As the club suit had the only entries to dummy for the diamond finesse, declarer cashed his King of clubs and then led the queen of clubs. When East showed out declarer had two entries to the board for the diamond finesse – but it was not enough!

Declarer entered dummy with the Jack and took a diamond finesse, and then entered with the Ace and took another finesse. When West showed out on this declarer had to lose a diamond and a spade – down one!

In the other room when West followed to the second round of clubs, declarer recognised that it was now safe to overtake the Queen with the Ace. Then he led a diamond and finessed the ten. Declarer continued with a low club to West’s eight and dummy’s nine to take a second diamond finesse.

When West threw a heart declarer’s foresight in overtaking the Queen of clubs with dummy’s Ace bore fruit. Declarer continued with his remaining club to dummy’s Jack for a third diamond finesse. Declarer had 12 tricks: one spade, three hearts, four diamonds and four clubs.

Once West followed to the Queen of clubs, it was completely safe for declarer to overtake it with dummy’s Ace.

Really well played – as I said up top, you cannot miss a detail if you are going to fully succeed at this game!

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, October 7

1/2. Charles Hall – John Rayner

1/2. Peter Donnellan – Bill Pollett

3. Molly Taussig – John Glynn

Monday, October 10

1. Diana Diel – Pat Siddle

2. Elizabeth McKee – Stephanie Kyme

3. Lorna Anderson – Heather Woolf

Tuesday, October 11

North/South

1. Tim Mardon Richard Hall

2. Benjamin Stone – James Fielding

3. Carol Eastham – Nikki Boyce

East/West

1. Sandra Ogden – George Ogden

2. Jane Gregory – Richard Keane

3. Sarah Bowers – Stuart Clare

Wednesday, October 12

1. Marge Way – Charles Hall

2. Gertie Barker – Jane Smith

3. Rachael Gosling – Peter Donnellan