Bridge

Opening lead — four of hearts.

Advocates of the weak notrump — 12 to 14 points — often argue its merits strongly, but the fact is that they are playing with dynamite. Unless they are exceptionally adept in its use, they will occasionally suffer a disaster of mindblowing proportions.

Consider this deal where NorthSouth were playing the weak notrump. Most Souths would open one club and not give any other bid a thought. But the actual South elected to utilise his favourite bidding gadget and commenced activities with one notrump.

West doubled, and North — who should have resorted to whatever rescue operations the partnership had agreed to play in such a situation — passed. East likewise passed, expecting a rich harvest, and South, feeling he had told his story in toto, also passed.

West led a heart, and the blitzkrieg was underway. East won with the queen and, shooting for big game, shifted to the queen of diamonds. The king lost to the ace, and back came a diamond, whereupon East cashed five diamond tricks. Then came the king and another heart from East, producing this position:

When West next cashed the ace of hearts, East parted with a club, and South reluctantly discarded the king of clubs. West thereupon imposed the final indignity upon the beleaguered declarer by returning a club, causing South to lose two spade tricks at the finish for down six — 1 700 points!