BRIDGE

Declarer topped the nine with the jack and ducked a spade. West switched to the ten of diamonds but South cashed three diamonds discarding spades from the dummy, crossed to the ace of spades and followed with ace, king and a third heart. West scored the queen but had been reduced to clubs. He elected to return a deceptive queen but declarer ducked and rode the exit of the six to the jack, N-S +400

Declarer will face a more formidable task when West begins with the ten of diamonds or perhaps the king of spades. North’s pattern had been revealed in the auction as 5,4,1,3 or perhaps 5,4,0,4 leaving South with no alternative but to advance to the nine-trick game.

N-S held a combined 26 HCP but the fit was poor indeed. There were only seven top tricks and South would need to develop tricks in a major suit. He could be certain that hearts were dividing 4-2 but a 4-2 spade division could also be anticipated. Declarer was certainly fortunate to find West with a hand from which there was no escape. The throw-in yielded a ninth winner because West held exactly three diamonds, a doubleton spade and the king & queen of clubs.