Not a whole lot of time for a column this week as I’ve been preparing for the talk on “How to win at bridge” at the Bridge Club this afternoon. It starts at 2pm and is open to members and non-members. There is no entry fee, but we will have a donations box for PALS and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

One of the topics we will be discussing is planning ahead in declarer play – you should have a good idea on how you are going to play the hand before you call for a card from dummy at trick one. Declarer on this hand (see Figure 1) did just that.

South opened a 20-22 HCP 2NT – North has a 50-50 decision with a really unappealing hand and in the end decided to bid 3NT.

West led the heart Queen which was dangerous for declarer.

Declarer has seven top tricks and clearly the best spot for two more was the club suit via double finesse – but there appears to be only one entry to dummy – or is there?

Declarer won the heart and cashed the KQ of diamonds – when both opponents followed there is only one diamond left out, so declarer can play the Jack of diamonds and overtake it with the Ace to play a low lob to the Jack and Queen, West wins this and knocks out declarer’s second heart stopper, but declarer is in control.

Play the carefully preserved five of diamonds to dummy’s six and play the club ten – no matter what East does, declarer now has three club tricks to go with the four diamond tricks and two hearts – nine tricks and a making contract.

This card combination, or some variation, turns up often, and declarer can often create a late entry by carefully managing the spot cards.

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

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, March 24

1. Jane Smith-Margaret Way

2. Betsy Baillie-Erika Jones

3. Joyce Pearson-Joseph Wakefield

Monday, March 27

North/South

1. Jack Rhind-Charles Hall

2. Stephanie Kyme-Joseph Wakefield

3. Judy Kitson-Gill Butterfield

East/West

1. Gertrude Barker-Jane Smith

2. Judith Bussell-Diana Diel

3. Elysa Burland-Molly Taussig

Tuesday, March 28

1. Malcolm Moseley-Mark Stevens

2. Barbara Elkin-Marion Silver

3. Jane Gregory-Delton Outerbridge

Wednesday March 29

1. William Pollett-Kristy Pollett

2. Greta Marshall-Lynanne Bolton

3. Sharon Shanahan-Betsy Baillie

Thursday March 30

1. Linda Pollett-William Pollett

2. Jane Smith-Magda Farag

3. Charles Hall-Stephanie Kyme

Granaway Bridge Club

Wednesday, March 29

North/South

1. Diana Diel-Stephanie Kyme

2. Sally Godet-Scott Godet

3. Sheena Raynor-Magda-Farag

East/West

1. Desmond Nash-Tracy Nash

2. Greta Marshall-Heather Woolf

3. Duncan Silver-Marion Silver