THERE’S not a lot happening at the Bridge Club right now, with some players still recovering physically and mentally from the ‘Not Totally Crazy Bridge Night’ held a couple of weeks ago.In that game we had a few instructional pre-dealt hands, and one of them had a ‘never-give-up’ theme and another featured an elimination play, and today’s hand (big hint!) combines both.

None Vulnerable

Dealer South

North

[spade]10 5 2

[heart]A J 8 7 6

[diamond]K 8 6

[clJ 6

South

[spade]A 7

[heart]K Q 10 9 54

[diamond]A Q 9

[club]A 10South West North East

1[heart] 3[spade] 4[heart] Pass

6[heart] Pass Pass PassNorth had little choice but to bid four hearts and South’s six heart bid was also reasonable with his shapely 19 pointer. West leads the four of clubs.

Things don’t look good as it looks like you have a spade and a club to lose. But — never give up! West’s three spade bid suggests that East has either one or no spades, and the club lead looks for all the world like a singleton. So, maybe there is a ray of ligh . .

North

[spade]10 5 2

[heart]A J 8 7 6

[diamond]K 8 6

[club]J 6West East

[spade]K Q J 9 8 6 3 [spade]4

[heart]3 [heart]2

[diamond]10 4 3 2 [diamond]J 7 5

[club]4 [club]K Q 9 85 3 2South

[spade]A 7

[heart]K Q 10 9 5 4

[diamond]A Q 9

[club]A 10

Win the club, draw trumps, cash all three diamonds, cash the spade ace to get rid of East’s spade and . . . exit with a club and East is endplayed!

He has to lead a club allowing you to throw your spade and ruff in dummy, slam made! Not that difficult.

Thanks to David Bird of thondon Evening Standard for the hand.