BRIDGE

South put up the king of diamonds to continue with a spade finesse. He cashed the ace of spades and ruffed a spade revealing the 3-3 division.

A low trump was taken by the ace as

East cashed the club ace and played another. Declarer played off the king-queen

of hearts and reverted to spade winners.

West was entitled to the master trump but ten tricks were home, N-S +170.

East was not paying attention since the deuce of diamonds had to be a singleton.

Let him play a low diamond after winning the trump ace. West ruffs to exit with the queen of clubs as East wins the ace and fires back another diamond earning West a trump promotion.

West will be entitled to another trump winner if declarer ruffs high or will score a second ruff when declarer discards, restricting South to nine tricks.

North declined to raise hearts because of his diamond holding and the fact that his trump support was mediocre. If he had raised to three hearts, partner would, undoubtedly, have advanced to the major suit game, a contract that should be defeated with more careful defense.

Questions can be sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The New Canadian Bridge c/o Torstar Syndication Services, One Yonge St., Toronto,

M5E 1E6