The second session of the Bermuda Bridge Club Teams Championship will have taken place last night and results will be in next week's column.

After the first session, the Petty team (Vera Petty-Roman Smolski-Marge Way-Bill Tucker - David Sykes- Sally Sykes) have ominously already carved out a good lead and it will be a major surprise if anyone overhauls them. Team Petty had a score of 72VP out of a possible 80 and are followed by Douglas (Alan Douglas, John Burville- John Glynn- Elizabeth McKee) on 54VP, Shadick (Phil Shadick-John Rayner-Gertie Barker-Jane Smith ) on 53 and Johnson ( Jean Johnson-Joe Wakefield-Tony Saunders-Charles Hall) on 52. These teams are almost certainly the only ones left in with a chance and will need to be in great form to make up the difference which is almost a full match behind the leaders. Still, it can happen, so watch this space!

Today's hand is just fascinating and emphasises the importance of spot cards .

Board 10. Game All. Dealer East

ªAQJ105

&Copy;AKJ1042

¨none

§AK

ªK86 ª72

&Copy;Q873 &Copy;none

¨Q84 ¨AKJ10963

§Q62 §J974

ª943

&Copy;965

¨752

§10853

Look at that gorgeous North hand!

The bidding was instructive and revealing.

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

- - 3¨ p

p 4¨ p 4&Copy;

p 6&Copy;

North decided to show a strong two suiter with his 4¨ bid and when South bid 4&Copy; little did he know that he would soon be playing in a heart slam! How would you handle this? Would you keep a cool head?

West led a diamond which declarer ruffed in dummy to play the Ace of Hearts …when East showed out, this hand becomes ' interesting. After some thought declarer showed how to make 12 tricks, all by recognising the strength of the two 9s in his hand.

His first move was to play the jack of hearts, giving West a real problem – if he won this, declarer could enter his hand with the 9 of hearts and bring in the entire spade suit! So West reluctantly ducked.

Declarer countered by now playing the Queen of Spades. Same problem for West … if he took this the nine of spades would be the entry to pick up his Q8 of hearts – so he ducked again!

Declarer correctly now continued with the spade jack and West was toast … he had to win this and played a diamond , but declarer won in dummy, crossed to the spade nine and took the trump finesse … slam made!

A lot of exclamation marks in the description but the thrust-counter thrust on this hand is brilliant and I hope you enjoyed it. So next time……watch those spot cards!