As one plays more of this game, certain areas should improve over time – the bidding is usually the easiest to develop and the declarer play takes a bit longer. One of the areas for improvement in declarer play is using your “spot” (non-honour) cards better. Declarer on the hand below lost a bit of focus even though the warning signs were there .

Dealer North – E/W Vulnerable

♠K8

♥K652

♦K7

♣A10965

♠None ♠J5432

♥QJ10 ♥A987

♦108652 ♦QJ

♣Q8742 ♣KJ

♠AQ10976

♥43

♦A943

♣3

North opened 1 Club, South bid 1 Spade , and when North bid 1NT showing 14 or less points and at least two spades, South bid the spade game.

The defence started with three rounds of hearts – declarer ruffed the third round and then, seemingly oblivious to what could happen or what the opponents played, set about ruffing diamonds. Low diamond to the King , another to the Ace, ignoring the QJ from East , and a third diamond ruffed low. East ruffed with the Jack of spades and returned a spade – now there was another diamond to lose – down one!

When one is ruffing a suit twice in dummy, it is usually right to ruff with the low trump first and then the high one since the overruff is more likely then. On this hand, however, the QJ of diamonds was a warning – declarer should ruff with the king of spades , ruff a club back to hand and now ruff the last diamond with the eight – East can overruff but declarer’s hand is now good.

All that was needed here was that extra little bit of concentration !

The next set of Beginners Bridge Lessons will start on Monday, September 14, 6.45pm-9pm, and will run until the end of March with a break for Christmas. Message bridgelessons@bermudabridge.com for details and registration.

• David Ezekiel can be reached at davidezekiel999@gmail.com

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS August 14-20

Friday August 14

1. John F W Glynn/Molly Taussig

2. Lorna Anderson/Joyce Pearson

3. Inger Mesna/John Rayner

Monday August 17

North/South

1. Louise Rodger/Molly Taussig

2. Caitlin Conyers/Gertrude Barker

3. Sheena Rayner/Magda Farag

East/West

1. Tony Saunders/Charles Hall

2. Lorna Anderson/Heather Woolf

3. Stephanie Kyme/Elizabeth McKee

Tuesday August 18

North/South

1. Keri McKittrick/Tim McKittrick

2. Amanda Ingham/Heidi Dyson

3. Ian Boatman/Muna Vallis

East/West

1. Julia Tadman/Joshimar Hussey

2. Tracy Pitt/David Leach

3. Desiree Woods/Ross Cooper

Wednesday August 19

North/South

1. Louise Rodger/Margaret Way

2. Richard Hall/Magda Farag

East/West

1. Patricia Siddle/Diana Diel

2. Sheena Rayner/Molly Taussig

Thursday August 20

1. Gertrude Barker/John F W Glynn (Tied 1st)

1. Betsy Baillie/Delton Outerbridge (Tied 1st)

3. Jane Smith/Magda Farag