Today’s hand is a masterpiece of hand construction by West in defence ― and it was a good thing, as North/South did not deserve a good result.

Dealer South — E/W Vulnerable

♠Q63

♥AQ5

♦J7

♣Q9852

♠10984 ♠A2

♥9763 ♥8

♦A84 ♦109632

♣K7 ♣A10643

♠KJ75

♥KJ1042

♦KQ5

♣J

The Bidding:

SOUTH NORTH

1♥ 2♣

2NT 3NT

The field was in 4 hearts but this pair went for what they thought was something better.

West led the 10 of spades ― East won the Ace and led back the 2 which South won with the King. South now led the diamond 5 and West’s nose started to twitch as this play looked fishy! So he did some thinking.

The return of the two of spades showed either 2 or 4 spades ― But if East had started with AJxx of spades he would have played low on the ten at trick one ― so he must have A2 and declarer has 3 spade tricks. Declarer also must have 5 heart tricks, taking him to eight tricks — West decided declarer was trying to sneak in a ninth trick and must have KQx of diamonds.

West now flew in with the Ace of Diamonds and, playing declarer for a 4-5-3-1 shape he laid down the Club king, collecting the Jack, and played another club ― down one!

Beautiful analysis by West and then perfect in execution ― lovely defence!

And it all came about because West took the time to analyse each suit in turn and put the whole picture together, which is great to see!

The next set of Beginners Bridge Lessons will start on Monday, September 14 at 6.45pm — 9pm and 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

Friday, August 21

1. Richard Hall/Molly Taussig

2. Jane Smith/Margaret Way

3. Lorna Anderson/Joyce Pearson

Monday August 24

1. Caitlin Conyers/Gertrude Barker

2. Richard Gray/Wendy Gray

3. Charles Hall/Stephanie Kyme

Tuesday August 25

North/South

1. Ian Boatman/Muna Vallis

2. Gareth Cooper/Ross Cooper (Tied 2nd)

2. Sally Irvine/Sandra Ogden (Tied 2nd)

East/West

1. Amanda Ingham/Heidi Dyson

2. Tracy Pitt/David Leach

Wednesday August 26

1. Gertrude Barker/Jane Smith

2. Sheena Rayner/Magda Farag

3. Martha Ferguson/Betsy Baillie

Thursday August 27

1. Charles Hall/Stephanie Kyme

2. Gertrude Barker/John F W Glynn (Tied 2nd)

2. Miodrag Novakovic/Margaret Way (Tied 2nd)