Bridge

East won the king to return another as partner grabbed the ace and cleared the suit with a third round on which East parted with a heart. South cashed the top spades, crossed to dummy with a club and, hopefully, advanced the jack of spades. West scored the queen and cashed two diamonds to defeat the game, N-S -50. Declarer could emerge with the game bonus if unblocks the spades, leads a club to dummy and plays a heart to the queen. He continues with the heart ace to follow with three rounds of clubs throwing East on play. East has been reduced to the king-eight of hearts where South's ten of hearts furnishes a game-fulfilling ninth trick.

However, this line of play would not be chosen without a glance at the E-W hands.

South had overbid a tad with 2NT (18-19 HCP) but was stuck for a rebid after the major suit opening. Four spades may come home when East begins with the jack of clubs. There is a fair chance that East might select the king of diamonds as an opening shot to set the major suit contract. This is all speculation, of course, but there was virtually no chance that N-S would reach the major suit game. Questions on bridge can be sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The New Canadian Bridge c/o Torstar Syndication Services, One Yonge St., Toronto, M5E 1E6.