THE Bermuda National Teams Competition took place at the Bridge Club over two sessions last Sunday and the team of Joe Wakefield, Bill Tucker, John Burville and David Cordon lifted the title. This is a strong quartet and one would probably rank them as favourites in this event.The event was really competitive and at the halfway stage the team of Marge Way, Lynanne Bolton, Lyn O'Neill and Diana Diel had a nice lead after a couple of good wins over some fancied contenders. The Wakefield team, however, had a really strong evening session and when the dust had settled ran out as comfortable winners. In second place in the nine- team field were Alan Douglas, Barry Rahman, David Pereira and Sven Pride, another strong group.

Before I get to the hand, some very sad news on the untimely death of Beatrice "Mabs" Turner. She was a popular figure in the Monday afternoon and Wednesday games and will be sorely missed at the club. Our thoughts are with her entire family and her friends.

Today's hand comes from what is called a "Par Contest" where one has to find a winning solution after seeing all four hands. See if you can come up with the right solution.

Dealer East.

Neither Vulnerable

North

"QJ1095

[heart]K32

[diamond]AK4

[club]J2West East

<$f"ZapfDingbats">"K32 "8764

[heart]4 [heart]J106

[diamond]QJ1082 [diamond]7653

[club]K1084 [club]63South

<$f"ZapfDingbats">"A

[heart]AQ9875

[diamond]9

[club]AQ975>The biddingWest . North East South<$z10.5>

Pass 1[heart] Pass 1" Pass 2[club] Pass 2[diamond] Pass 3|0xa8| Pass 4[diamond] Pass 4NT Pass 5[heart] Pass 5NT Pass 6[diamond] Pass 6[heart] Pass Pass West leads the queen of diamonds — try it before reading on.

The suggested solution is to play the Ace-King of diamonds, throwing the ace of spades away. Next, the spade Queen is led and a club discarded from hand. West wins the King of spades but with spades 4-3 and hearts 3-1, declarer now has twelve tricks.

Looking at all four hands, though, there appears to be another winning line. Cash the second diamond pitching a club and then lead a low heart from dummy — East has to split his honours so the Queen wins. Now lead a low club from hand — if West rises with the King you can claim. If West plays low, win the Jack, cash the Ace and ruff a club with the King of hearts. Now a heart finesse, draw trumps and give up a club at the end! More than one way to skin a cat!