The bridge season is slowly getting back into the swing of things and the Ernie Owen Individual held last night and the upcoming Junior Teams (Wednesdays, September 5 and 12) will see players starting to drift back after the summer.

Some will be a little bit rusty after a layoff and it is probably a good idea to take just that little more time over a bid or play for a couple of games.

This week's hand would not be a great one to come back to as the contract looks a bit hopeless and declarer needs to think a little bit, and positively, in order to achieve success always a good approach when things don't look good.

Dealer: South

Vulnerable: Both

IMPs

North

" Q 5 4

J 8 7 3 2

2

K 10 8 6

South

" A 10 9 3

A Q 10 9 5

A K J

Q

South West North East

1 Pass 4 Pass

6 All Pass

Opening lead: spade 8.

North's bid and South's slam bid are both reasonable but not a good spot! You play low from dummy and East plays the jack. Can you see any way out of this mess?

In spite of your overbidding (you might have bid Key Card Blackwood and discovered that you were missing an ace and the heart king), you have a legitimate play for the contract.

"All" you need is to find someone with the stiff king of hearts and East with the queen of diamonds.

Go for it! Cash the ace of hearts, willing tthe king to drop. Assuming it does, cross to dummy with a heart and take the diamond finesse. If it works, pitch two spades from dummy on winning diamonds, give up a club and leave the opponents talking to themselves.

The full hand:

Dealer: South

Vulnerable: Both

IMPs

North

" Q 5 4

J 8 7 3 2

2

K 10 8 6

West East

" 8 7 6 " K J 2

6 4 K

10 8 5 Q 9 7 6 4 3

A J 9 7 5 4 3 2

South

" A 10 9 3

A Q 10 9 5

A K J

Q

Take another good look at this hand the temptation at trick one is to panic but that gets you nowhere. The winners at this game are those who fight for every trick and every contract and the rest usually takes care of itself.