I'LL start with an important reminder about the next two Monday games on December 5 and 12.These games are being combined with the Bermuda National Pairs competition and as a result the field needs to be consistent one week to the next.

As a result anyone playing on the December 5 must also play on the 12th with the same partner. This applies to all players, including those who are not entering for the Bermuda National Pairs.

This week's hand came up at the Bridge Club last Friday and is one of those distributional hands which usually lead to exciting results at the table.

Before I get to the hand, a little bit on distribution. 'Flat' hands usually come from a bad shuffle, especially in rubber bridge where the tricks are kept together.

A lack of shuffling will result in each trick from the previous hand being distributed to all four players and thus no one gets a lot of one suit.

A good shuffle needs only about seven 'shuffles' — any more doesn't add anything.

Now to this week's hand which must have been shuffled well! You hold as South, at equal vulnerability.

[club]Q J 8 3 2 [heart]A 7 5 4 3 [diamond]None [club]A 8 5 and while you are gazing at it the bidding, with West as dealer, reaches you!West North East South

1[heart] 3[spade] 4[heart] ??If partner has anything like she should, it is hard to imagine any hand where six spades won't make. Partner must have a void in hearts, and at the vulnerability at least ace-king to seven spades.

Given your diamond void, partner should have a little length in diamonds, which is good. Only if partner has something like AKXXXX, void, XX, XXXX can a slam fail so you should not dream of doubling four hearts — just bid six spades. Partner's hand actually was [spade]A K 10 9 7 6 5 [heart]None [diamond]J 8 2 [club]Q 6 2, which is what you would expect so the slam is easy!

The actual results on the night were, of course, all over the place. A few pairs got doubled in five spades which wasn't good as six is on.

Other East-West pairs did well to get double in some number of hearts on diamonds which once again was good for them.

A couple of tips about distributional hands — don't get carried away by momentum but if you have a difficult decision and one choice is to bid again, you visually should!LATEST RESULTS

Bermuda Bridge ClubMonday, November 21, afternoon, N/S: 1. Aida Bostelmann-Magda Farag, 2. Mabs Turner-Ann Sims, 3. Wendy Gray-Richard Gray. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Pat Siddle-Vivian Siddle, 3. Joan Ross-Barbara Sutherland.

Monday, evening, N/S: 1. David Sykes-John Burville, 2. Lyn O'Neill-Audrey Smith, 3. John Rayner- Don Airey. E/W: 1. Roman Smolski-Vera Petty, 2. Margaret Way-Elizabeth Mckee, 3. Sheena Rayner-John Hoskins.

Wednesday, afternoon, N/S: 1. Magda Farag-Mona Marie Gambrill, 2. Dolly Warwick-Alice Palmer, 3. Elizabeth Mckee-Aida Bostelmann. E/W: 1. Caroline Svensen-Tracy Nash, 2. Michael Bickley-Charles Gambrill, 3. Stephen Ball-Judy King

Wednesday, evening, N/S: 1. Dan McCleary-Jane McCleary, 2. Trish Moody-John Evans, 3. Alex Moir-Dorothy Moir. E/W: 1. Caroline Maloney-Caroline Svensen, 2. Joan Ross-Ron Ross, 3. Wendy Salvia-Elaine Stevens.

Friday, November 25, N/S: 1. David Sykes-Sally Sykes, 2. Wendy Gray-Richard Gray, 3. Joseph Wakefield-Stephan Juliusburger. E/W: 1. Alice Palmer-Julia Lunn, 2. Stephen Ball-Lynanne Bolton, 3. Michael Bickley-Audrey Smith.