Bridge Andrew Robson

I have just returned from a giving a master class on the merits of Three No Trumps over Five of a Minor. Naturally, I did not include this deal, on which Three No Trumps fails, losing four heart tricks and a spade. Not that Five Diamonds looks very likely to make either, mind…

Dealer West East-west Vulnerable

(1) Skimpy, for a 1NT overcall should contain

15-19 points. (2)Put me down for 3NT, gambling on the hearts. But then there would have been no story. (3)Bold, facing a partner likely to have “tram

tickets” on the auction. West led ♦ 7 – unwilling to lead away from his honours in the other three suits. Declarer won in hand with ♦ 10, crossed to ♦ Q and led

♥ 2 to ♥ K and ♥ A. She trumped West’s ♥ Q continuation then led ♣ 2 to ♣♣ 9, Q and

♣ 3. She trumped a third heart and led ♠ 2. West won ♠ A and returned ♠ Q, so she won

♠ K, trumped dummy’s last heart with her last trump, ♦ A, and led ♣ 4 to ♣ K and ♣ A. Declarer drew East’s last trump with dummy’s ♦ K, discarding her last spade from hand. With two cards remaining – ♣ J8 in her hand – she led ♣ 7 from dummy; when East played ♣ 6, she finessed ♣ 8 and won the last trick with ♣ J. Eleven tricks and game made. It was a beautifully executed dummy-reversal that took maximum advantage of the favourable club position. ANDREW ROBSON