The big news is that the Sectional has now definitely been rescheduled for November 19-22 and chairwoman Katrina Van Pelt tells me that all sanctions and permissions have been received. So get your partners, stoke up those hurricane lamps and get ready for the big event!

Today's hand is all about defence … and a bit of vision. East was the star in the shape of Arun Jain of New Delhi , and many of you will have played this hand in the Worldwide Bridge Contest in June. It was in fact Board 21 on the day but I have changed it for convenience.

Board 22. E/W Vul. Dealer East.

♠A32

♥K95

♦AQ73

♣AQ7

♠KQ9854 ♠76

♥84 ♥AQ6

♦J5 ♦1084

♣K93 ♣J8642

♠J10

♥J10732

♦K962

♣105

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass 2 DBL

Pass 2NT Pass 3NT

Pass Pass Pass

South's 2NT was Lebensohl showing a weak hand and asking partner to bid 3 clubs (after which South would bid 3 Hearts) which makes North's 3NT a complete overbid, but it is not easy after the pre-emptive opener. If North had bid correctly he could have bid 4H after the 3H bid and this makes on the club finesse.

The spade king was led and declarer ducked ….. the Queen of spades followed and declarer won and played Ace-Queen-King of diamonds ending in his hand. He now ran the Jack of hearts and East won the Queen and returned a club to the nine and Queen. Declarer now played the King of hearts and the defence could not stop ten tricks.

Wait a minute! That's not what happened at the table! When declarer ran the Jack of hearts, Jain smoothly won with the Ace! Now when declarer won the club he "knew" that East, the hand with the good spades, had the Queen of hearts so he crossed to the diamond nine and led a low heart to the nine – curtains! Jain won and played another heart and declarer was locked in dummy and slipped to a one rick defeat, making only one spade, one heart, four diamonds and two clubs.

A great play by Jain and one that occurs more often than you would think.

LATEST RESULTS

Open Pairs winners

1. David Cordon-John Burville

2. Elizabeth McKee-John Glenn

3. Phil Shadick-Steve Ball

Monday afternoon, September 27

N/S 1. Louise Rodger-Lyn O'Neill 2. Rosie Smith- Julia Patton 3. Trish Colmet-Pat Riding

Monday evening, September 27

N/S 1. David Cordon-John Burville

2. John Glynn-Elizabeth McKee 3. Bill Tucker-Alan Douglas

Wednesday morning, –September 29

N/S 1. Louise Rodger-Lyn O'Neill

2. Elysa Burland-Magda Farag

E/W 1. Dolly Winwick-Gertie Barker 2. Dianna Kemp-Nancy Parker

Wednesday evening,– September 29

N/S 1. Jon Turner-Elizabeth Caulfield 2. Rosie Smith-Julia Patton 3. Dianna Kempe-Debbie Jhuboo E/W 1. Peter Jone-Martha Ferguson 2. Marsha & James Fraser 3. Lorna Anderson-Susan Adhemar

Thursday evening, September 30

N/S 1. Martha Ferguson-Julia Patton 2. Jane Clipper-Michael Tait 3. Misha Novakovic-Paul Thompson

Friday evening, October 1, 2010

N/S 1. Phil Shadick-Steve Ball

2. Jean Johnson-Joe Wakefield

3. Sheena Rayner-Magda Farag

Granaway

N/S 1. Jane & Dan McCleary 2. Wendy & Richard Gray E/W 1. David Cordon-Julia Lunn 2. Judy King-Steve Cosham

Monday afternoon, October 4

N/S 1. Trish Colmet-Jane McCleary 2. Gertie Barker-Dolly Winwick 3. Elysa Burland-Greta Marshall E/W 1. Kathy Cosham-Alex Crampton 2. Dot & Tony Buckley 3. Pat Siddle-Diana Diel

Monday evening, October 4

N/S 1.John Glynn-ElizabethMcKee 2. Gertie Barker-Jane Smith 3. John Rayner-Jean Johnson

E/W 1. Rachael Gosling-Steve Cosham 2. Linda & Bill Pollett 3. Misha Novakovic-Charles Hall

Wednesday morning, October 6

N/S 1. Sue Wessner -Jack Berry 2. Dolly Winwick-Aida Bostelmann 3. Jane Mc Cleary-Russ Craft E/W 1. Julia Beach-Mona Marie Gambrill 2. Diana Diel-Jean Johnson 3. Lyn O'Neill-Louise Rodger

Wednesday evening, October 6

N/S 1. Alex & Mark Crampton 2. Marsha & James Fraser E/W 1.Sandra Curtis-Steve Trumper 2. Joyce & Ted Pearson

Thursday evening, October 7

N/S 1. Barrie McKay-Charles Pearson 2. Jane Clipper-Michael Tait 3. Don Airey-Russ Craft

Friday afternoon, October 8

N/S 1. Tony Saunders-Jean Johnson 2. Fay Robinson-Freya Giffen 3. Greg Carey-Michael Tait E/W 1.Margie Way-John Burville 2.John Glynn-Charles Hall 3. Joe Wakefield-Barrie McKay