With the Bermuda Sectional now completed, the Bridge Club slows down on the tournament front with some players taking a break and others gearing up for the ACBL Summer Nationals.

There is a Junior/Senior night on July 9 and on Wednesday, July 15 is the International Fund Game. Before I leave the Sectional, I read the write-up on the Bridge Club website and it is clear that despite the good weather keeping some players away, the event was a great success.

I mentioned chairman Paul Thompson and Tournament Director Jack Rhind last week but Paul also credits John Glynn, Lorna Anderson, Rosie Smith, Judy King and many others who worked behind the scenes.

This week’s hand is all about thinking at trick one — or thinking anytime!

Dealer South N/S Vulnerable

North

S AKJ743

H Q8

D A4

C A83

West East

S 9 S 2

H J109753 H K6

D 10632 D K975

C 105 C QJ9642

South

S Q10865

H A42

D QJ8

C K7

The Bidding:

South North

1S 2NT

4S 4NT

5C 6S

South opened his 12 pointer and North’s 2NT was a forcing game raise.

South tried to end the bidding with his 4 Spade bid (fast arrival bad hand, slow arrival good hand) but North understandably dragged him to the slam.

West led the Heart Jack and declarer played the Queen from dummy and had to win the King with his Ace.

He now drew trumps and when the Diamond finesse lost went one down.

Declarer immediately looked for sympathy from partner for both Kings being offside but partner was not impressed!

There was little chance that West had led the Jack of Hearts from KJ10 on this powerful bidding and you should have played low at trick one …. now win the Ace, draw trumps, eliminate the Clubs and exit with a Heart in this position:

North

S KJ743

H Q

D A4

C

West East

S S

H 10975 H K

D 10632 D K975

C CQJ9

South

S Q108

H 42

D QJ8

C

Now East has no safe exit and either leads a Diamond away from the King or leads a Club providing a ruff and discard — either way the slam makes.

If East did have a third Heart as an exit you can fall back on the Diamond finesse. So the next time you want to get lucky — think!

Hard to argue with that!