Sunday, June 17, 2001		Bridge

DECLARER'S play on this week’s hand had all appearance of a wild guess. Nevertheless, there was considerable logic behind his idea — indeed it was his only prospect of success.

East dealt at game all and opened Three Hearts to leave South with a problem. Double and Three No-trumps were both possible calls but he chose Three Spades. Now North became excited and Blackwood led to a contract of Six Spades.

West led the King of Clubs and, after winning in dummy, declarer drew two rounds of trumps to leave West with the Queen. There seemed no hope of avoiding a Club loser as well for, if the Diamonds divided 3 — 2, West would be able to ruff the fourth round and cash the Queen of Clubs.

Declarer spotted a slender chance. If West had to follow to four rounds of Diamonds and his partner held the singleton nine, ten or Jack, the losing Clubs would go away before West could ruff.

At trick four South played off D A and was encouraged by the fall of East’s nine.

A finesse of D 8 followed (there was nothing that West could do about it) and by the time that West ruffed the last Diamond, all of South’s losing Clubs had gone away.

Lucky? Yes, but the only chance.