Bridge

Love all; dealer South

North

4Q

!8 7 4 3

#K 7 6

2A K Q 7 6

West East

4J 10 9 4 48 7 5 2

!Q 10 9 6 !J

#Q J 4 #A 10 5 3

2J 3 210 9 8 4

South

4A K 6 3

!A K 5 2

#9 8 2

25 2

There was a neat point to the defence on this deal and West got it absolutely right. When congratulated afterwards, however, he looked puzzled. He had played the right card for the wrong reasons.

Playing five-card majors and a strong no-trump, South was reduced to the ugly-looking opening bid of 1#. North responded 22. South rebid 2NT and North raised to 3NT, perhaps luckily missing the 4-4 heart fit.

West led the 4J and dummy's queen won. With the side entry gone, playing clubs from the top looked a poor bet and, as only four tricks were needed from the suit, declarer came to hand with a top heart and led a low club. His plan, if East played low, was to duck in dummy. Then, with East on lead and the #K protected, he was home unless the clubs were 5-1.

West foiled him by playing the jack on the first club lead. As he said afterwards, he always petered with a doubleton, to help his partner!

Can you see why his defence proved a killer? If dummy ducked, West would be on lead and would be sure to try the #Q to give his side four more tricks. And it dummy won, the club suit could only be used if it broke 3-3. Whatever declarer tried, he was limited to eight tricks.