Castle bridge

“We had him, you fool, and you let him get away,” the Sheriff of Nottingham railed at the hapless Sir Guy of Gisburne.

The two were opposed by Little John and Robin Hood, today’s NorthSouth, in a castle tournament. When Robin Hood bid two hearts, Little John scraped up a raise to three, and Robin went on to game because of his strong trumps.

The Sheriff, sitting West, led the queen of clubs, winning. Robin ruffed the third club and started on the spades. He took the ace, ruffed a spade in dummy, led a trump to his hand and ruffed a second spade.

Gisburne, East, triumphantly overruffed with his jack. He shifted to a diamond, but Robin took dummy’s ace, drew East’s last trump and ruffed another spade, establishing the long spades. He still had a trump in his hand and could claim the rest, making game.

“It’s a taste of the rack for you, Gisburne,” the Sheriff raged.

“What would you have me do, my Lord?” Gisburne asked piteously.

“Discard on the third spade instead of overruffing dummy, you oaf,” scowled the Sheriff. “This varlet can lead another trump to his hand and ruff another spade, but you discard again. At that point, dummy has no more trumps, and declarer has but one high trump left in his own hand. After he takes the ace of diamonds, he must ruff a diamond with his last trump, and you win the last two tricks.”

I think the Sheriff was being a bit tough on Sir Guy. Although the correct defense was marked, not many Easts would have found it. South dealer Both sides vulnerable