BRIDGE

“There are none so blind as those will not see”.

A popular proverb with many alleged origins but definitely one that can be applied to West's misdefense on this deal.

Good news, bad news with South's optimistic overbid. The bad: it gave East-West an opportunity to misdefend and let South get away with larceny. The good: overbidders like South will be encouraged to continue their bad habits and give the rest of us countless chances to record plus scores when we might otherwise have gone minus when defending more secure contracts like three clubs.

As for South's three notrump call: maybe dummy could have been better but both opponents were bidding and there are only so many points in a normal deck.

Seven of hearts to the ace for a return of the four to South's King. Declarer punched back with the King of clubs to East's ace for a third round of hearts to West's Queen.

Looking heavenward for inspiration (too late and wrong direction both!), West eventually decided to try the effect of trapping dummy's spade Queen by attacking with the Jack.

Not so good as South won in hand to play the suit right back to win with dummy's nine. That left him perfectly situated to untangle four tricks in each black suit and nine in all.

With both defenders fully cognizant that the heart suit was going to be blocked after the third round, East's return was intended as a suit preference signal, his lowest available heart asking for a diamond return, the lower ranked of the two suits – if West had only seen the message!