Tuesday saw the one session Novice Pairs finally take place, well done to the club for persevering with this, and an encouraging total of eight pairs took part.

The winners, with a 61.11 percent game, were Elizabeth Caulfield and Mary Leigh Burnett, closely followed by Stephen Smith and Andy Carne on 59.52 percent and Linda Abend and Lidge Raben-Lavetzau on 57.14 percent. The leaders gobbled up all the match points as no other pair broke 50 percent, but encouragingly there were no pairs less than 40 percent which shows a good overall standard. Well done to all and especially Liz and Mary Leigh for a fine winning score.

Last Monday also saw the local session of the ACBL Wide Charity game and the winners were Simon Giffen and Rachael Gosling also with a 61.11 percent game and they were followed by Gertie Barker-Jane Smith in second and Jean Johnson-Alan Douglas in third.

I don’t often write up difficult declarer play hands in the column, but this one took my fancy.

Order is: (Spades / Hearts / Diamonds / Clubs)

None

109875

AK

AJ8754

AQ2

AKQJ

QJ10987

None

You arrive at the solid looking seven heart Grand Slam and West leads the club king. How do you make it? Big hint ... nothing breaks kindly, nothing.

Try it before I show you the full hand, and then try it again.

Well, how did you do? Now here is the full hand, so keep trying.

Order is: (Spades / Hearts / Diamonds / Clubs)

North:

None

109875

AK

AJ8754

East:

KJ863

6432

None

10963

West:

109754

None?

65432

KQ2

South:

AQ2

AKQJ

QJ10987

None

It really is a maddening hand. You have 13 top tricks but the bad breaks in the red suits makes it nearly impossible, but not impossible.

The key is unblocking the diamonds in a safe way. So win the club ace and the key play — discard a diamond. Heart to the ace, ruff a low spade, another heart to the king and ruff the queen of spades. You now have one heart left in dummy and two in your hand in this position:

Order is: (Spades / Hearts / Diamonds / Clubs)

North:

None

10

AK

J8754

East:

KJ8

64

None

1096

West:

1097

None

654

Q2

South:

A

QJ

QJ1098

None

Now draw trumps throwing the king of diamonds from dummy on the last trump, cash the spade ace throwing the ace of diamonds and all your diamonds are good. Pretty.

Well done if you solved it.