Today’s hand is really nice, and I like it even more due to the fact that it took me a bit to get to the right solution, and I got there knowing that no one gives you a hand to solve if it can make with a normal play – so clearly something clever was required to make the hand. See Figure 1.

This deal was from a team game where both teams reached four hearts by South on similar auctions. North opened one club, South bid a heart, West bid two diamonds and after North bid three clubs South jumped to four hearts.

At both tables, West cashed the Ace and King of diamonds then shifted to the five of clubs, which was taken by dummy’s Ace.

At the first table the declarer continued with the Ace, King and Jack of trumps. After taking the Jack with his Queen, West exited with a spade. After winning this with the Queen of spades, declarer called for a low club which he ruffed in hand with the eight of trumps. Alas for declarer, West overruffed this with his nine to set the contract by one trick.

The second declarer looked at the play more deeply. He saw that any play would do if trumps were 3-2 or when they were 1=4. The only difficulty he could see on a 4=1 trump division was when West began with both the Queen and nine of the suit.

As a result, he formed a plan that would avoid the outcome the first declarer had suffered. After a good deal of thought, declarer came up with the winning solution.

First he cashed dummy’s Ace of spades. Next he played the Ace, King and Jack of trumps. The clever part of this move was that he threw dummy’s King and Queen of spades on the hearts instead of discarding clubs, thereby turning his Jack and ten of spades into winners. After taking his Queen of trumps, West had no winning move. On any continuation, declarer would win in hand and have the rest of the tricks for his contract.

Full marks to this second declarer who made the contract at the table without needing an alert to really engage his brain!

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

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, April 28

North/South

1. Jack Rhind-Joseph Wakefield

2. Peter Donnellan-Jane Smith

3. Tony Saunders-Margaret Way

East/West

1. Charles Hall-Molly Taussig

2. Martha Ferguson-Judy King

3. Wendy Gray-Richard Gray

Monday, May 1

North/South

1. William Pollett-Charles Hall

2. Geoff Bell-Kathleen Bell

3. Elysa Burland-Greta Marshall

East/West

1. Lorna Anderson-Heather Woolf

2. Louise Rodger-Molly Taussig

3. Judith Bussell-Stephanie Kyme

Tuesday, May 2

North/South

1. Wenda Krupp-Jane Gregory

2. Amanda Ingham-Heidi Dyson

3. James Mulderig-Robert Mulderig

East/West

1. Jean Schilling-John Thorne

2. Sarah Bowers-Stuart Clare

3. Felicity Lunn-Catherine Welmer

Wednesday, May 3

North/South

1. Jack Rhind-Judith Bussell

2. Peter Donnellan-Lynanne Bolton

3. Tony Saunders-Charles Hall

East/West

1. Gertrude Barker-Jane Smith

2. Tracy Nash-Desmond Nash

3. Patricia Siddle-Diana Diel

Thursday, May 4

North/South

1. Linda Pollett-Mark Stephens

2. Charles Hall-Stephanie Kyme

3. Lynanne Bolton-Magda Farag

East/West

1. Betsy Ballie-Tim Mardon

2. Desmond Nash-Molly Taussig

3. Rachael Gosling-Delton Outerbridge

Granaway Bridge Club

North/South

1.Lynanne Bolton-Peter Donnellan

2.Lisa Ferrari-John Glynn

3.Betsy Baillie-Tim Mardon

East/West

1.Sheena Rayner-Molly Taussig

2.Gertrude Barker-Heather Woolf

3.Diana Diel-Stephanie Kyme

Non-Bridge Club Online Results for Bridge Club Members

February 27: Elizabeth McKee and Stephanie Kyme - 6th out of 110 pairs

February 28: Diana Diel and Marge Way - 2nd out of 222 pairs