TODAY’S hand is notable from two aspects — firstly, it needs card perfect declarer play for the contract to succeed and, secondly, the successful declarer, the remarkable Petra Mansell, was well over 80 years old when she played the hand. On that point, there is nothing better than bridge to keep the mind and personality shape and active.

Board 19, Dealer South, E/W Vul:

North

[spade]J 9 2

[heart]Q

[diamond]A Q J 5 4 2

[club]Q J 3West East

[spade]- [spade]Q 10 7 6 3

[heart]J 7 6 4 2 [heart]A K 10 5 3

[diamond]K 7 6 [diamond]9 3

[club]A K 9 6 4 [club]7South

[spade]A K 8 5 4

[heart]9 8

[diamond]10 8

[club]10 8 5 2West North East South

- - - Pass

1[heart] 2[diamond] 4[club] 4[spade]

Pass Pass Double Pass

5[heart] Pass 6[heart] Pass

Pass PassI am not sure where the five heart bid comes from knowing partner has a singleton club. East, having seen a sizeable penalty go up in smoke, decided that slam was the only compensation, and I suspect the final six heart bid had some annoyance attached to it!

Now, all declarer has to do is make the contract — not easy, as this one of those hands which looks like it only has one loser, but is difficult to produce 12 tricks!

North led the two of spades, and now difficulty reared its smugly head. The ten of spades was covered with the king, which was fluffed in hand. A small heart followed to the king and then a small spade which again was ruffed in hand. Another heart to the king drew out the remaining trump.

Declarer then laid down the queen of spades because she knew the jack was in the North hand, South agitated for a long while, then ducked, on which declarer sluffed a diamond. A small club to the ace, followed by the king saw declarer pitch a diamond from dummy. Declarer had the feel of the outstanding cards — North had one more club and five diamonds. A third club followed captured by the queen on which declarer threw away her last diamond. North was end-played, and had to play diamonds — she chose the ace, which was ruffed in dummy — and the diamond king in declarer’s hand became trick 12.

If the ace of diamonds is led the contract is easy. The small spade lead presented declarer with ramifications that were difficult to confront, but she overcame all obstacles to get home safely, with little help from the defence.

Once declarer played a second trump, South must cover the spade, forcing out declarer’s last trump while still holding the spade eight over dummy’s seven-six.

Not as easy to see was the necessity for North to unblock the queen and jack of clubs under the ace-king to avoid being left on play with the third round of the suit.

Declarer played the hand superbly, but as you can see both defenders had a chance to defeat her — not easy for North but a bit easier for South.