I just saw the disappointing news that the 2022 Bermuda Bridge Regional has been cancelled due to the uncertainties surrounding Covid-19. With people having to plan well in advance for a trip like this the decisions makes sense, but it will again leave a big gap in the bridge calendar as, for many players, the Regional is the highlight of the year.

I’m back after a few weeks away, and I’m back with a message which won’t be new to you – bridge is a thinking game and if you refuse to think and plan you are just not going to do well. Much of that thinking and planning has to be done at trick one, and too often declarer doesn’t wake up to the dangers in a hand until it is too late (see Figure 1).

North opened 1 heart and over partner’s INT bid raised him to 3NT with his 18 HCP which became the final contract played by South – West led the spade 7.

At the first table in a team game, the declarer was more noted for the speed of his play rather than his skill. Declarer played low from dummy and the Queen forced his King. Declarer continued with a club to the Ace and the Queen of clubs, overtaking it with the King. When East discarded on the third round of clubs, declarer could make no more than eight tricks - one down!

At the other table, declarer was more careful and deliberate. At trick one, he called for dummy’s jack of spades since he wanted to preserve an entry to hand to cash the four club honours. If the Jack of spades had held, then the King of spades would have been the entry. When East covered the Jack of spades with the queen, making declarer’s 10 of spades an entry, declarer took it with his King and led a diamond to the Queen and East’s King.

East returned a spade, which was taken in dummy with the ace. Next, declarer cashed dummy’s Ace and Queen of clubs. When both opponents followed to the clubs, declarer claimed nine tricks: a heart, three spades and five clubs. The 10 of spades was the entry to his hand.

Note that declarer’s play of a diamond at trick two was a precautionary measure against clubs being five one: he would then have been able to make a second diamond trick if the honours had been favourably placed.

See the full hand in Figure 2.

Two good plays by declarer led to success.

Notice the lead of the spade 7- West, correctly, stayed away from leading a low spade as the lead of a low card will usually promise an honour in that suit, which he didn’t have. It didn’t make a difference on this hand, but can be crucial on many others.

As with many hands that look easy, they often aren’t, and catering for the unexpected takes a bit of work and a bit of thought!

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Monday, September 6

1. Aida Bostelmann - Julia Beach

2. Gertie Barker - Jane Smith

3. Heather Woolf - George Correia

Tuesday, September 7

1. Katyna Rabain - Louise Payne

2. Diana Downs - Jean Schilling

3/4 Felicity Lunn - Gina Graham

3/4 Sandra Ogden - George Ogden

Wednesday, September 8

1. Gertie Barker - Jane Smith

2. Greta Marshall - Heather Woolf

3/4 Nancy Parker - Diana Kempe

3/4 Molly Taussig - Marge Way

Friday, September 10

1. Gertie Barker - Martha Ferguson

2. Jane Smith - Molly Taussig

3. Juddy Bussell - Marge Way

Monday, September 13

1. Pat Colmet - Dianna Kempe

2. Kath Bell - Geoff Bell

3. Judy Bussell - Magda Farag

Tuesday, September 14

1. Marion Silver - Duncan Silver

2. Keri McKittrick - Tim McKittrick

3. Katyna Rabain - Louise Payne

Wednesday, September 15

1. Gertie Barker - Jane Smith

2. Elizabeth McKee - Molly Taussig

3. Kath Bell - Geoff Bell

Friday, September 17

1. Jane Smith- Marge Way

2. Heather Woolf - George Correia

3. Gertie Barker - Judy King