BRIDGE

Many European players open one club with all of their weak balanced hands regardless of minor suit distribution, hence the one-club opening here. North-South were young Swedish experts, Ola and Mikael Rimstedt. Mikael’s jump to four spades looks like too much to us. Perhaps it was due to the exuberance of youth, but aggressive bidding like that can only be justified by success.

The opening diamond lead was won with the ace and declarer led a club at trick two. He accurately put up dummy’s king when West played low. Rimstedt next led a heart, won by East with the eight. East cashed the queen of clubs and led another club, ruffed by South. Rimstedt ruffed a heart on the table, led a diamond back to his king, and ruffed another heart. Rimstedt held his breath and led the queen of diamonds. The play of the diamond spots by East-West made it seem a certainty that the diamonds were splitting 3-3. West would have led the 10 of diamonds from an original holding of 10-9-8-7. Both opponents duly followed suit and declarer brought it home from there. Rimstedt led dummy’s last club, ruffed low by East and overruffed by declarer. Rimstedt ruffed his last heart with dummy’s 10 of spades. East overruffed with the king, but that was the last trick for the defense. Making four after a well-bid hand!