Tim Moorey’s Quick Crossword No.1205
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11-13 balanced or natural. I’m not sure I would have opened this Aceless 11-count, vulnerable.
Holding both four-card majors more than counterbalances the lack of a third Diamond.
A case for a skimpy One Spade – likely to be a helpful contribution to partner.
Expecting partner to cover Spades.
West found the reasonable but unfortunate lead of a low Diamond, which ran to declarer’s eight. Declarer crossed to the Ace of Diamonds, returned to the King of Clubs (the Club finesse was surely doomed on the bidding), then led the Queen of Diamonds. West won his King and East threw an encouraging eight of Spades. Can you spot the one winning card for West at this juncture?
East’s helpful signal has told West to switch to Spades, but only the lead of the Knave will see the defence scoop up all their tricks. If dummy plays low, the Knave wins, whereupon King and another Spade sees East score the Ace-ten; if dummy covers with the Queen, then East wins the Ace, returns a low card to West’s King, and scores his ten-seven over dummy’s nine-five. One down.
Yes, East’s high Spade discard cost the second undertrick – but a small price to pay to secure the winning switch.
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A bottle of Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage will be given to the sender of the first correct solution opened on 6 May2024. By post: send to MoneyWeek’s Quick Crossword No.1205, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, London W2 6JR. By email: scan or photograph completed solution and coupon and email to: crossword@ moneyweek.com with MoneyWeek Crossword No.1205 in the subject field.
ACROSS
1 3 9 10 11
13 15
18 22 23
24 25
Misses prodigal son? Not entirely (4) Think back on part (8)
Still bald after leaving hospital (7)
Mug from Belgian city, a name forgotten (5) Prominent, intemperate speech in favour of the Underground? (11)
Nurse in Guys is terrific (6)
Look good in France mostly in summer house (6) Hopelessness? A rope ends it sadly (11) Caught in temptation getting money (5) Fresh oil needed on journey in African capital (7)
Pop back into almost enlightened, secret connections (8)
Neat holder recalled by delivery boy (4)
Name
Address
DOWN
1 2
4 5 6 7 8 12 14
16 17 19 20 21
Upright in soccer (8) Slow passage in music (5) Holiday island (6) More (5) Expire (7) Sales agents (4) Rubbish (6) Sailors’ dance (8) Attachment to a motor cycle (7) Flowering tree (6) Be quiet (4,2) Perfume (5) Sardonic wit (5) Defect (4)