One thing one cannot do at the bridge table is fall asleep — and there are different shades of what “falling asleep” means.

Take a look at today’s hand — it was played in 3NT at every table but only once out of nine tables was the 3NT contract defeated.

North opened one club (I would open a no-trump) and South made a value jump to 2NT which was invitational — North had no trouble raising to 3NT.

At every table West led the three of diamonds — declarer ducked the Jack and the Queen and won the third diamond.

Now when the club finesse lost East had no more diamonds and declarer made a comfortable nine tricks. Do you see who was asleep?

Well eight of the nine West players were either asleep or not good enough! At the ninth table, when declarer ducked the Jack of diamonds at trick two, West did some thinking.

He had no entry and his hand was dead, so he overtook the diamond with his King and switched to the spade ten, hoping partner had some strength there.

Well, partner did, and the contract now stood no chance — no matter what card South played from dummy the contract was destined for defeat. Great thinking and great play by West!

The lesson from this hand — don’t make reflex plays which you will regret later — stay focused and remain active.

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

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, June 26

1 Jack Rhind/Molly Taussig

2 Elysa Burland/Sancia Garrison

3 Jane Smith/Margaret Way

Monday, June 29

North/South

1 Sheena Rayner/Magda Farag

2 Elysa Burland/Molly Taussig

3 Elizabeth McKee/Margaret Way

East/West

1 Sancia Garrison/Jane Smith

2 Kim Simmons/Charles Hall

3= Lorna Anderson Heather Woolf

3= Martha Ferguson/Judy King

Tuesday, June 30

North/South

1 Ian Boatman/Muna Vallis

2 Sanja Thompson/Vivian Periera

East/West

1 Richard Burton/Chris Van Rooyen

2 Malcolm Moseley/Finn Moseley

Wednesday, July 1

1 William Pollett/Linda Pollett

2 Peter Donnellan/Stephanie Kyme

3 Charles Hall/Margaret Way

Thursday, July 2

1 Peter Donnellan/Lyanne Bolton

2 Stephen Cosham/Judy King

3 Miodrag Novakovic/Margaret Way