THIS week’s hand is one for both the advanced and intermediate player.The correct play depends very much on whether one is playing Teams or Rubber bridge, where making your contract is paramount and overtricks are of lesser importance or whether one is playing Pairs where overtricks might be as valuable as making the contract.

Dealer North

E/W vulnerable

Teams playNorth

[spade]A 8 2

[heart]A K 5

[diamond]A J 8 2

[club]K 4 3

South

[spade]5 4 3

[heart]Q J 3

[diamond]5 3

[club] A J 6 5 2The bidding:

North South

1[club] (1) 1NT (2)

3NT (3)

1. North is too strong for a 1NT opening as she has 19 HCP, so she opens one club intending to jump to 2NT at her next bid.

2. 6-10 HCP no four card major.

3. No other bid available as slam is unlikely even if South is maximum.

West leads the king of spades and declarer holds off while East plays the nine. West continues with the spade queen and declarer wins with the ace, East playing the seven, showing two or four spades.

Now how do you plan the play? Well, you have seven top tricks and the only place to go for the other two is the club suit. How do you play the clubs?

West is clearly the danger hand — you don’t mind East getting in as even if he has another spade the spade suit cannot defeat you. It looks obvious to cash the king of clubs and finesse the jack on the way back but you can give yourself a little extra chance at no cost. Since you don’t mind East getting in you want to guard against the only thing you can guard against — West having a singleton or doubleton queen of clubs. So you cash the ace first and then lead to the king — bingo!North

[spade]A 8 2

[heart]A K 5

[diamond]A J 8 2

[club]K 4 3

West East

[spade]K Q J 10 6 [spade]9 7

[heart]8 4 2 [heart]10 9 7 6

[diamond]10 7 6 [diamond]K Q 9 4

[club]Q 9 [club]10 8 7

South <$>

[spade]5 4 3

[heart]Q J 3

[diamond]5 3

[club]A J 6 5 2You now make ten tricks!

What if West just had one or two low clubs and East the queen? No problem. You win the king and lead a third club towards your jack — this time you will make nine tricks.

And at Pairs? I might make the same play as the alternative only wins when East has exactly three clubs to the queen — try it!

LATEST RESULTS

Bermuda Bridge Club

Monday, April 3, morning, N/S<$>: 1. Louise Rodger-Magda Farag, 2. Rachael Gosling-Stephan Juliusburger, jt. 3 Greta Marshall-Peggy Thompson and Bea Williams-Gwen Christensen. E/W: 1. Richard Gray-Wendy Gray, 2. Alice Palmer-Michael Bickley, 3. Enid Hyland-Anne Edwards.

Monday evening, N/S: 1.Judith Bussell-Donna Leitch, 2. Wendy Gray-Richard Gray, 3. David Sykes-Sally Sykes. E/W: 1.Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Alan Douglas-Barry Rahman, 3. Kevin Comeau-Elizabeth McKee.

Wednesday morning, N/S<$>: 1. Patricia Hayward-Greta Marshall, 2. Richard Gray-Wendy Gray, 3. Bea Williams-Charles Gambrill. E/W: 1. Elizabeth McKee-Sheena Rayner, 2. Diana Diel-Magda Farag, 3. Marilyn Simmons-Rachael Gosling.

Wednesday evening, N/S<$>: 1. David Sykes-Sally Sykes, 2. Laura Patriciu-Patricia Colmet, 3. Michael Bickley-Harry Kast. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Dan McCleary-Jane McCleary, 3. Ernest Paynter-Charles Pearman.

Friday, N/S: 1. John Glynn-Bill Pare, 2. Oswald Dietrich-Laura Patriciu, jt. 3. Alan Douglas-Marilyn Simmons and Joseph Wakefield-Margaret Way. E/W: 1. Rachael Gosling-Craig Hutton, 2. John Burville-David Cordon, 3. Diana Diel-Audrey Smith.