Bridge

IF THERE is one thing worse than making a mistake yourself, it's making one that gives an opponent the chance to do something clever. This means you must suffer twice over in the post mortem.

North's weak two in hearts was frisky but the final contract was a good one none the less. West led the knave of diamonds and declarer started well by winning with the ace. He continued with two top trumps then ace, king and another heart, ruffing the third round in hand. When West discarded, declarer realised he needed an extra dummy entry if he was going to set up the heart suit, so he led the five of diamonds, intending to finesse the nine. West put paid to that with the excellent play of rising with the ten, and now, with the hope of a second diamond entry gone, declarer had nothing better to try than the club finesse. When that lost, he was one down.

Declarer's plan was a good one, but leading diamonds was an error. After ruffing the third heart, he should give up a trump to West. West must now lead a minor: a club gives the 12th trick immediately, while a diamond concedes the vital entry to dummy to set up hearts. Even the ten of diamonds is no good, since declarer covers with the king and unblocks the queen from hand.

The trials for the European Open Teams in Ostend this June were won by Michael Ash and Alan Goodman, and Jim Hay and Frazer Morgan. They will be joined by Douglas Piper and Alex Wilkinson to make up the Scottish team.

• This article was first published in Scotland on Sunday, January 17, 2010