Sunday, November 11, 2001		Bridge

"THAT was well-played" remarked West quietly after this week’s hand. That was praise indeed from this particular West. "What do you mean?" demanded his partner. "He only took a finesse."

There really was just a little more to it than that.

South dealt at love all and, playing five-card majors and a strong no-trump, was inelegantly reduced to opening One Diamond. Naturally North became excited but South converted his partner’s eventual bid of Six Diamonds to Six No-trumps.

West led the King of Spades — a mistake, as it happened, but a very natural choice.

There were 12 easy tricks for declarer if the Clubs behaved (an extra trick was readily establishable in Spades) but there was a problem if declarer won the lead and returned SJ immediately, for dummy would have no good discard.

A low Club or Diamond might be a winner and to throw a Heart would prevent South taking two finesses in the suit if it proved necessary. (There was always the thought that finding HK well placd and a 3—3 division in Diamonds would be enough even if the Club suit could be brought in.)

South found a neat solution. After winning the lead with SA he led C2 to the Ace and came back to the Queen. When the bad break appeared he led SJ from hand (discarding a now useless Club from dummy) and, with the favourable lie of the cards in the red suits, ended with two Spade tricks, three Hearts, four Diamonds and three Clubs for his contract.