Cute Hand

There are so many tiny things to enjoy about the game of bridge. Have a look at this seemingly uninspiring deal:

	♠ Q 9 8 ♥ A K 3 ♦ A T 7 ♣ A J 8 2
♠ K 5 3 ♥ 8 6 2 ♦ Q 6 4 2 ♣ K 7 3		♠ J T 7 6 2 ♥ Q T 5 4 ♦ K ♣ Q T 4
	♠ A 4 ♥ J 9 7 ♦ J 9 8 5 3 ♣ 9 6 5

North has 18 highs, South 6 and EW share 16 equally. It's a marginal 3NT contract and that's what our South is playing for.

The auction hadn't been very descriptive which is my excuse for leading the ♦4. Not a great start but declarer ducked, partner won and switched to a spade. I was allowed to win and so played back to declarers Ace. We have two tricks, the two pointy Kings.

Declarer took the marked diamond finesse, cashed the ♦A and started fidgeting like she was having trouble getting to hand. A sneaky small heart didn't work; partner leapt with the ♥Q and cleared the spades. The defense have three tricks and this is how things look:

	♠ - ♥ A K ♦ - ♣ A J 8 2
♠ - ♥ 8 6 ♦ Q ♣ K 7 3		♠ J ♥ T 5 ♦ - ♣ Q T 4
	♠ - ♥ J 9 ♦ J 9 ♣ 9 6

Trying a club to the nine I won the King, cashed my ♦Q and played another club. Declarer should work out that if I held the ♣Q I would exit a heart to ensure it won a trick but ever the optimist declarer tried the Knave. Partner won the Queen and taking the ♠J completed a 3 trick set.

Cute!

All the defensive picture cards took tricks!