E       S       W       N

Hours later after the match South might well have been thinking about what would have happened had she protected her partner’s pass with a reopening double and it had been left in.

In her daydream her partner led the ten of Hearts to her King and Ace and ruffed the 9 with the 4 of Diamonds.

North dutifully returned the Jack of Spades and care was taken to ensure that all 3 Spade tricks were taken ending in the South hand.

On the lead of the 4 of Hearts West is fixed. He has no loser to throw but makes the good shot of ruffing with the Diamond 8. The critical point in the play is now reached. To get the timing right for a trump promotion North must refuse to overruff and ditch a club instead. West has now no way to avoid losing 2 more tricks.

In practice West would probably play Ace of Diamonds (North who had read the original article would play the 7 rather than the 5). The Queen would be covered by North’s King and North must now lead the 13th Spade which South hits with his remaining high diamond.

North’s promoted 5 of diamonds now rises to the surface to defeat the contract by 3 tricks.

Mike Crook