I’m travelling and really stretched for time, and with nothing really going on at the Bridge Club this week I thought I would bring you a short, sweet and fascinating hand.

Dealer West E/W Vulnerable. Duplicate pairs

North

S KJ653

H 54

D A32

C K92

East

S 42

H None

D KQJ874

C QJ1087

South

S AQ1098

H A3

D 1065

C A65

West

S 7

H KQJ1098762

D 9

C 43

West opened a vulnerable 4 hearts and after two passes South took his life in his hands and bid 4 spades, which became the final contract.

West led the heart king and North put down an incredible dummy.

The contract looked doomed, however, with mirrored hands and four certain losers, and it all looked horrible when East ruffed the opening lead.

East retuned a diamond and the contract sidled to a one trick defeat — at all tables but one!

At one table, Declarer saw a small chance and when East ruffed the heart he threw his ace away. He won the diamond return and had to hope that West was exactly 1-9-1-2 so that’s what he played for — he drew one trump, cashed two clubs and played a heart to West.

West had to provide a ruff and discard, but since one was not enough Declarer let him hold the trick, throwing a club from hand and a diamond from dummy to come to this position.

North

S KJ65

H

D 2

C 2

East

S

H None

D QJ8

C QJ10

South

S AQ1098

H

D 65

C

West

S

H QJ10982

D

C

Now West had to provide another ruff and discard and the diamond disappears from dummy, and South ruffs and claims ten tricks.

A double ruff and discard is a very rare thing.

Have you noticed one thing? The most valuable card in West’s hand? Yes, the two of hearts.

At trick six when Declarer starts his master plan to force the ruff and discard, West refuses to win the trick and forces declarer to win it with the heart five.

Now Declarer has to lose three minor suit tricks — down one!

Could West have seen this? Well, “beware of Greeks bearing gifts” is a very old saying and appropriate here — if an opponent wants you to do something it is usually right to do the opposite.

• Latest results from the Bermuda Bridge Club

Monday, April 25

1. Judy Bussell-Sheena Raynor

1. Wendy and Richard Gray

2. Louise Rodger-Lyn O’Neill

2. Elizabeth Mckee-Stephanie Kyme

3. Gertie Barker-Peter Donnellan

3. Julia Lunn-Heather Woolf

Evening

1. Misha Novakovic-Marg Way

2. Peter Donnellan-Lynanne Bolton

3. Ruby Douglas-Delton Outerbridge

Tuesday, April 26

1. Richard Hall-James Fraser

1. Peter and Susan Adhemar

2. Sharon Shanahan-Claude Guay

2. Louise Payne-Debbie Jhuboo

3. Catherine Kennedy-Hugh Gillespie

3. Dan Trainer-Jeferino Santos

Wednesday, April 27

1. Jeanette Shaw-Ellen Davidson

1.Julia Beach-Pat Siddle

2. Gordon Bussell-Peter Donnellan

2. Linda and Bill Pollett

3. Diana Diel-Judy Bussell

3. Bea Williams-Nea Willits

Thursday, April 28

Juniors

1/2. Richard Hall-James Fraser

1/2. Michael Tait-Jean Thompson

3. Rosie Smith-Joyce Pearson

Open

1. Judy Bussell-Stephanie Kyme

2. Richard & Wendy Gray

Friday, April 29

1. Diana Diel-Elizabeth Mckee

2. Julia Beach-Peter Donnellan

3. Marg Way-Heather Woolf

Monday, May 2

1. Michael Antar-Elizabeth Stallard

1. Sue and John Hodge

2. Janice Trott-Michael Bickley

2. George Correia-Martha Ferguson

3. Diana Diel-Molly Taussig

3. Julia Beach-Russ Craft

Evening

1. Richard and Wendy Gray

2. Charles Hall-Misha Novakovic

3. Pat Siddle-Diana Diel

Tuesday, May 3

1. Lorna Anderson-Annabelle Mann 1. Heather and Michael Farrugia

2. Sharon Shanahan-Claude Guay

2. Christine Lloyd-Jennings-Paul Shrubb

3. Mike Shaw-David Theaker

3. Nikki Boyce-Carol Eastham

Wednesday, May 4

1. Elizabeth McKee-Elysa Burland

1. Richard and Wendy Gray

2. Gertie Barker-Jane Smith

2. Sue and John Hodge

3. Janice Trott-Michael Bickley

3. Lyn O’Neil-Molly Taussig

Thursday, May 5

Juniors

1. David Pickering-John Luebkemann

1. Nikki Boyce-Lisa Ferrari

2. Richard Hall-James Fraser

2. George Correia-Annabelle Mann

3. Sally and Scott Godet

3. Lorna Anderson-Ernest Paynter

Open

1. Gertie Barker--John Glynn

2. Alan Douglas-Jane Smith

3. Paul Thompson-Peter Donnellan

Friday, May 6

1. Gertie Barker-Peter Donnellan

1. Judy Bussell-Stephanie Kyme

2. Barb and Pat Cerra

2. Linda Abend-Judy Patton

3. Marg Way-Molly Taussig

3. Julia Beach-Gill Gray

— Results compiled by Julia Lunn