After a brief lull in the action the tournament season resumes this week with the mixed pairs taking place on Monday and Friday, followed by the non life masters pairs on the April 21 and 28.

The mixed pairs used to be known as the ‘divorce stakes’, but that is less true now than it used to be — many married couples have seen the light and have realised that playing with the spouse in a pressure situation is probably best avoided.

Both events are, of course, duplicate pairs and that is a game where more points are won in the part score jungle, and with overtricks, than are won with fancy bidding systems and magic slams.

Today’s hand is the sort of bread and butter bidding and play hand where events are won or lost.

Dealer North E/W Vul

(Spades / Hearts / Diamonds / Clubs)

North: Q10976 / AK7 / 84 / J62

East: 32 / J1095 / AJ62 / A108

South: AK854 / 6 / Q109 / Q953

West: J / Q7432 / K753 / K74

The bidding:

NORTH / EAST / SOUTH / WEST

Pass / Pass / 1S / Pass

3D* / Pass / 3S / Pass

Pass / Pass / Pass / -

? ?

* Limit Raise in Spades

The South hand is just about an opening bid in third seat and even with the singleton declarer had no hesitation in not accepting the game try by partner.

West led the Jack of Hearts — plan your play!

Ready? A few thing to think about — there are two unavoidable Diamond losers and the Club suit will need some fortunate lie of the cards to restrict yourself to two losers (which you can’t on this hand if you play Clubs yourself), unless you can force the opponents to open up the suit. So that is the plan and it now becomes relatively easy.

Win the Heart, draw two rounds of trumps ending in dummy, cash the second Heart throwing a Diamond and ruff the third Heart and this is what you have:

North: 1097 / - / 84 / J62

East: - / 10 / AJ62 / A108

South: K8 / - / Q10 / Q953

West: - / Q7 / K75 / K74

Now simply exit with one of your losing Diamonds — the opponents are stuck! They can win and cash another Diamond but then have to either open up the Clubs where they can take two tricks or lead a red card giving you a ruff and discard. Either way — 9 tricks and probably a clear top in a pairs game.

Take another good look at this hand, there is a ton to learn from it.