Bridge

Robin Hood was well known in England for stealing from the wealthy and giving to the poor. But in his spare time, he and his merry band played bridge. David Bird has put together a third collection of their adventures, Arrow Through the

Heart. The book contains many illustrations by Marguerite Lihou and 113 instructive deals.

In this deal, Robin Hood (South) was battling against Friar Tuck (East) and Much, the son of a local miller (West). What happened in three no-trump after West led the diamond 10?

Hood had only five top tricks: three diamonds and two clubs. He could expect to get a third club trick, but it was sensible to attack the majors first. Declarer, after taking the first trick in his hand, ran the heart eight. What happened next?

This deal was played early one morning, with the players sitting cross-legged on a coarsely woven blanket laid on the ground in Sherwood Forest. But Friar Tuck was wide awake. Hoping his partner held the club queen, he won with his heart queen and shifted to the club knave, as the jack was called in England until well into the 1970s.

South took the trick with dummy’s king and played another heart. East won with his ace and led a second club. Declarer had little choice but to duck in his hand, so West took the trick and returned a diamond. South won and, with ash rug, hoped he could guess spades to get a ninth trick. However, East claimed two spade tricks to go with two hearts and one club already taken. It was the only winning defense.