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. . . the jack! Declarer covered with Q and king. The diamond return from a puzzled East brought a rapid three tricks for the defence. Although South had three winners on which to park three of dummy's club losers, the vital fourth trick for the defence eventually arrived at trick eleven when South took the unavoidable club finesse. East-West gained 12 IMPs.

Here's a little anecdote. As I was writing this article my wife Denise came into the office about midnight, much the worse for wear after a hard day at work and two large glasses of red wine. She has no more idea about bridge ("What are the blackberry ones called again?") than I do about speech and language therapy but, in my misplaced enthusiasm for West's lead, I neverthless took the cards out of the board. I explained an unusual defence was required, including the fact that only one specific initial lead could defeat the contract. I proffered the cards to her, she shrugged her shoulders and, to my total astonishment, immediately pulled out J !!!!! After that I needed a couple of extra glasses of wine. "Would you like to play in the Masters Pairs this year, dear?"
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