BRIDGE

Declaring today's deal in a World Championship event, South's emotions must have run the full gamut: total elation at having attracted what seemed like a very favourable opening lead to bitter disappointment at having to go down anyway.

A slight stretch to force to game after North's misfitting spade response but North had a heart fit to fall back on and he used “Fast Arrival” (“not enough over here to consider slam”) to place the contract.

And then the “helpful” opening lead as West chose to attack in the unbid suit. Declarer was charmed to win the diamond start in dummy and cash the spade ace to discard his second small diamond.

To leave managing the trump suit as the only remaining hurdle to be cleared on the way to collecting the game bonus.

Recognizing that he could arrange to hold his trump losers to three most times the suit split 3-2 and many times it was 4-1 with East having the length including the ace, South made the percentage play of calling for a low heart from dummy and playing the King from his hand.

Still not a terrible happening when West won the ace to play back the spade Queen to force declarer to ruff: 3-2 trumps and all would be sunny!

But the roof caved in when a second round of hearts drew a diamond discard from West! East won the heart Jack, cashed the Queen and forced out South's last trump with one more round of spades.

For South: one spade trick, two hearts, two diamonds and three clubs for down two and after such a promising start!