Bridge

IT WAS the Rev Sydney Smith who wrote: "I never read a book before reviewing it; it prejudices a man so." Though I have followed his advice, I did read More Bedside Bridge, edited by Elena Jeronimidis (Collins Willow, pounds 5.99). Is it bad form, I wonder, for me to write about the book, as one of the contributors? No, for if we all abstained on these grounds there would be no reviews as there are nearly 100 of us!

I liked this deal, described by Guy Dupont (an editor of Le Bridgeur). In a France England Entente Cordiale match, John Reardon and Richard Butland, playing North-South for England, bid (unopposed) 1S-2H; 3C-3D; 3H-4D; 4NT-5H; 6S-pass. Yes, 6! might have been a better resting spot, but 64 seemed reasonable. West led 4#, dummy played low, and East (Michel Lebel) won with the queen.

Any passive return would have allowed declarer to win, draw trumps and establish dummy's hearts with one ruff with the ace of diamonds, remaining on the table as a vital entry. Was there a defence? Yes. Breaking all the rules, Lebel returned a diamond into dummy's tenace!

There was no escape for declarer; with the outside entry gone, there was no point in establishing the hearts with a ruff, and the finesse against the queen was wrong. And, although the king of clubs was well placed, any attempt to ruff a club in dummy would be greeted with an over-ruff.

Love all; dealer East

North

46 5

!A J 10 8 5 2

#A J 2

26 3

West East

410 3 2 49 8 7

!6 3 !Q 9 4

#10 8 4 #K Q 7 6 3

2J 9 7 5 2 2K 4

South

4A K Q J 4

!K 7

#9 5

2A Q 10 8