BRIDGE

Apocryphal story about the bygone era of rubber bridge in Jolly Olde England:

The west banks of the Thames were lined with homeless gamblers who went broke by drawing trumps too soon.

But the east banks of the same river were lined with those who went broke by not drawing trumps soon enough.

Although she was sitting South when she gave away this game contract, today's declarer would have been in familiar company on the west banks.

North passed over West's interference and when his partner introduced hearts, game was reached without further ado.

A fortunate opening lead for South (but seemingly routine for West) as she could win the ace and play back the suit immediately to set up a parking spot for her club loser.

For lack of any more attractive option, West won his spade Queen and returned the suit.

Next: ace of hearts from dummy and the Jack from West that should have set off alarm bells (ALERT: 4-1 split, beware of playing too many more trumps too soon) for declarer. But, as were the westbank denizens of yesteryear, she was far too enamoured by the strength of her trumps as opposed to the quantity.

Two more rounds of hearts ending in hand before cashing the diamond ace and trumping a diamond in dummy.

Problem: how to get back to the closed hand to draw the last trump and cash diamond tricks?

Solution? No viable way as ace and a club ruff would leave East with the last trump and two good clubs.

After that one round of trumps,Ace and a diamond ruff, high for flash and security, and only then draw trumps: homefree!