Firstly, sorry about the missing column last week. I could explain to you the couple of weeks I’ve had that led to that, but that would not be for this column! Thanks to those of you who expressed your dismay at the column not appearing and thanks also to those of you who pretended to be dismayed — I’ll take all of those!

The two session Mixed Pairs Championship will have concluded last night and after the first session it looks as if the winner will come from one of the top four pairs after the first session, as there is a gap to fifth and the rest of the field.

We have, however, seen a lot of strange things happen in second sessions of recent tournaments so a surprise can be in store. Full report next week.

Leading after the first round with 63.19 per cent are Alan Douglas–Jane Smith closely followed by Ruby Douglas–Delton Outerbridge on 62.73 per cent, Jean Johnson-David Sykes on 58.1 per cent, Delmont and Marilynn Simmons on 57.87 per cent and David Cordon- Julia Lunn on 52.31 per cent.

Excellent performance by all and notable are the performances of Ruby-Delton and the continued strong performance of Delmont and Marilynn after Delmont’s excellent result in the Men’s pairs.

Alan-Jane and Jean-David would presumably be the bookies’ favourites to move on to the title but anything can happen in one session of Pairs bridge so no one will be counting their chickens as of yet. This week’s hand is all about declarer play, as the bidding was replicated all over the field.

Dealer South Both Vulnerable

North

S J753

H 664

D A72

C 10965

East

S 10

H Q9753

D 853

C K742

South

S AKQ9

H A2

D 1064

C AQJ3

West

S8642

H KJ108

D KQJ9

C 8

South usually opened 2NT showing 20-22 balanced, North bid 3 Clubs (Stayman) and when South bid 3 Spades North raised to the Spade game.

At every table West led the standout King of Diamonds.

Most declarers won the Ace and played Ace King of trumps, noting the 4-1 break.

Now declarer usually continued drawing trump ending in dummy and ran the club 10 which held.

Now another Club to the Jack also held but when West showed out declarer had to concede a Club and went down to a one-trick defeat.

Before I get to the play by the successful declarer I need to point out the need for planning at trick one.

Too many declarers are so keen to draw trump that they defer their planning until after that is done, and it is often too late.

Our successful declarer saw immediately that there were three unavoidable red suit losers and that the Club finesse had to work for the contract to succeed.

So after winning the Diamond Ace at trick one declarer played the five of Clubs and inserted the Jack which held. Only now did declarer move on to drawing trumps in four rounds ending in dummy.

Now the 10 of Clubs was played and declarer ran this successfully — this left the lead in dummy to take yet another Club finesse and declarer got home with 8 black suit winners and the two red Aces — success!

The difference between the successful and unsuccessful declarers here is subtle, but as you can see it was all about taking time to think right at the start of the hand and then executing.

Take note!