Bridge

South thought that Christmas had come early when, after studying his hand closely and deciding to open Two Clubs, he heard a vulnerable East open One No-Trump (12-14).

Suppressing the urge to double in a bel low, he contented himself with doubling in his normal tone. Oddly enough, he would have been info ra nasty disappointment if everyone had passed–he would have been unable to defeat One No - Trump!– but West, not unreasonably, rescued to Two Diamonds and this was followed by two passes. Losing patience South jumped to Four Hearts to end the auction.

West led the 10 of diamonds against Four Hearts and the sight of dummy was reassuring to declarer. It did not have much, but the clubs jack was useful.

Without a care in the world, South won and led queen of hearts from hand. West’ s discard of a low club came as a shock and now, no matter what South tried, he could notes cape the loss of three trump tricks and a club togo one down. Still, I suppose that was better than the in dignity of watching the opponents make One No-Trump doubled.

I hope you spotted how declarer could (and should have copied with the possibility of 4-0 trumps? With no immediate entry to dummy, a club loser was likely, so, at trick 2, he should have led the queen of clubs from hand. This loses to the king, but now the jack of clubs provides an entry to dummy to lead trump sand, if it proves necessary; the ace of clubs can be trumped on the table to provide a second vital entry for another trump lead.