Bridge

East/West game; dealer West

This was an interesting and tricky deal that Paul Bow ye rs lid into the hands for last year’ s parliamentary match between the House of Lord sand House of Commons. East-West can make Four Hearts and North-South can gather nine tricks in a spade contract. If East-West reach Four Hearts, it is neither an easy hand to play nor for that matter, to defend. But how about playing/ defending Four Spa des? West is sure to lead atop diamond and sees the nine from partner. Suppose West elects to continue with the king of diamonds, partner completing the peter with the seven, then plays a third diamond. Declarer, who has seen West open the bidding with One Diamond, then supported partner’ s hearts, must rise with the ace of trump sin dummy; finesse the spa de jack; cash the king, then pitch a heart on the queen of diamonds. All that must now be lost is one club trick, as South’ s two losing heart scan be ruffed in dummy.