DIFFERENT AUTHORS AND SIMILAR DEALS

Englishman David Bird (who has written more bridge books than anyone) and American Larry Cohen have teamed up to produce an interesting book, called "On the Other Hand" (Master Point Press). It contains 100 pairs of hands that look similar but require, for a variety of reasons, different lines of play. After each deal, there is an "understand why" box that highlights the key point of that deal.

To try to give you the idea, cut out this column and compare it with tomorrow's.

South is in six notrump. West leads the heart jack. More in hope than in expectation, declarer plays dummy's queen, but East takes the trick and returns a heart. How should declarer continue? Authors of card-play books often gloss over the bidding in order to reach the desired spot with a minimum of fuss. This is an example, but North's response rates to reach the best contract. Yes, seven clubs or no-trump might be cold (if opener has the spade ace, heart king, diamond ace-king and club queen), but how will North ever find out? Also, partner "never" has the perfect hand.

South needs to win two spades, one heart, three diamonds and six clubs. The original declarer cashed the club ace at trick three, crossed to his hand with a diamond and played a club to the jack. There was good news — the finesse won — and bad news — East discarded. West took the setting trick with the club queen.

bridge

DOWN 1 Witty 2 Talk indistinctly 3 Deficiency 4 Malice 5 An integer (anag) 6 Relevant 11 Musical composition 13 Sudden increase 15 Ecstasy 16 Surrender up

South allowed for a singleton queen with East, but he was four times more likely to have a low singleton. So, declarer should have finessed in clubs on the first round of the suit. Copyright United Feature Syndicate (Asia Features)