BRIDGE

Perhaps distracted by thinking about a bad play on the previous deal, South tried to disprove the old adage that two wrongs can't, won't and don't make a right! To start with: North-South's agreed bidding system mandated no opening bid in a minor with a balanced or even semibalanced hand with eleven high-card points. South opened one diamond!

Next up: North's response as a limit raise showing 1112 high-card points, at least four-card diamond support and no four-card major and invited game. To make a pass by South with his subminimum clearly indicated.

He carried on to three notrump!

King of hearts to the ace for a low spade shift.

Since the opening lead in combination with the immediate shift strongly indicated West had started with a very good five-card heart suit, he clearly would not have the ace of spades as that would have made an overcall automatic but he had passed (more on that pass later).

To make the play of the

King of spades automatic and a play that would have vindicated the earlier bidding goofs by enabling South to take five diamonds, four clubs and the spade King.

Declarer played the spade ten at trick two and watched as the defenders ran off both majors for down seven (!!!) and -350, a rare score indeed!

But there was one more error on the deal: with that fabulous distribution and great promise in the majors, West clearly needed to be in the bidding – maybe two diamonds to show both majors and end in a making four spades?

P.S. The deal was passed out at the other table of the match!

What a game!