BEFORE I get to this week's hand ¿ a fun one ¿ a reminder that the Ernie Owen Individual will be held next Friday, August 31, to remember a great partner, friend and member.

It is rare for any four cards of the same rank to be played on the same trick, but when it happens they are most likely to be deuces.

On one occasion many years in a goulie game in the back room of the Mayfair at 3 a.m., it was reported that four aces were played on the same trick!

I can't remember the spot cards, but it looked like this:

Dlr: North

Everyone mad

North

" A K Q J 10

¿

¿

K J 10 9 x x x x

West East

" x x x " x x x x

A x x x x K Q J 10

x x A K Q x

x x x Q

South

" x

x x x x

J 10 9 x x x x

A

West North East South

¿ 1 Dbl 1" (!)

Pass 6" Dbl 7

Pass Pass Dbl Pass

Pass 7" Dbl All Pass

Opening lead: Small spade

South, Otto the Janitor, had made a tactical one spade bid on the first round, which he regretted when he heard partner's rebid.

In seven spades, he won the lead with dummy's 10 and continued drawing trump from the jack upward.

After four rounds of spades, he was so excited that he forgot to unblock the ace of clubs!

(Or perhaps he had not counted trumps). Instead he played the fifth trump.

On the ace of spades, East pitched the ace of diamonds, South threw the ace of clubs, and West, who realised that the queen of clubs was falling, threw the ace of hearts and folded his cards.

Pretty!!