Bridge

As the players at the Mad Hatter’s paused for tea, the two Red Queens continued their rancorous disputes.

“I should hope their husbands are less obstreperous,” Alice thought, wondering why the King of Hearts had not put in an appearance. “I suppose he doesn’t want to be around his wife any more than necessary.”

But as the game resumed and the Hatter dealt, Alice saw the King of Hearts pull up a kibitzer’s chair beside her. As South, the Hatter opened one heart, and Alice leaped to four spades as West. North, the Mock Turtle, bid five hearts. East he judged to defend.

Alice led the queen of clubs (best), and East overtook with the king. The Hatter took his ace, led to the ace of spades and returned a trump, putting up his ace when East showed out. Alice was about to follow low when the King of Hearts gave her a gentle nudge.

“My dear spouse the Queen can’t stand to be captured,” the King whispered, “but not all of us high honors are so self-indulgent.”

Heeding the King’s words, Alice threw her king of hearts under the ace! The Hatter drew the last trump but had to lose two clubs and a diamond, down one.

If Alice keeps her king of trumps, declarer will take the A-K of diamonds and exit with a trump. Alice must lead a spade — all she has left — and South discards a club from dummy and the last diamond from his hand. On the next spade, he discards dummy’s last club, ruffs in his hand and claims.

“I like the King much better,” Alice muttered.