BRIDGE

East made a fair try to defeat Three No-trumps on this deal, but it was not quite good enough. An offbeat, but logical alternative would have made all the difference.

As dealer East passed, South opened One Spade, North responded Two Diamonds and South jumped to 3NT to end the auction. This left East regretting that he had not opened with a weak Two Hearts. But he need not have worried, for, with an unattractive lead, West made the inspired choice of a heart.

The queen was covered by the king, and declarer held off. He ducked the next heart as well; now East, holding his entry-less hand, could see no point in continuing hearts. Instead, he pushed through the 10 of clubs. South covered and West took his ace - there would be no point in holding off, for it was certain that his partner could never get in again.

In the hope that East held the nine of clubs as well as the 10, West returned a low club, but it really did not matter at this point - with West holding the ace of spades, declarer had plenty of time.

Well, what could East have done? After winning his two heart tricks, he must switch to the three of clubs, not the conventional top card of the doubleton, the 10. What a difference! West wins and can return a low club to the 10, establishing his jack, for what would prove to be the defences fifth trick.