This week's article arrived in my inbox with the simple introduction: "Ok, so you want a good article for poor bridge?" I don't think I need say any more than that! Enjoy Jim's article, from the recent Brighton Swiss Pairs.

The bidding needs some explanation; the double of 2 was intended by East as a support double showing three card spade support. West decided (even though this was an experienced partnership) that this showed a good hand. When the double came back to him, he not unreasonably passed holding a balanced hand with four good diamonds and 12 points. In fact, even if he'd remembered that the double was a support double he would still have passed since 2 rates to go two or three off.

East led K which held the trick followed by Q overtaken by West and ruffed by North. West at this point still hadn't remembered about the support double. North led a low trump to the Jack and West made his second mistake by taking the Ace and leading another spade to shorten declarer's trumps, not unreasonably. North could not draw any more trumps because he had no winners established and led the K instead. Now it was East's turn to err by taking the Ace and leaving himself on lead. Unsure of the heart position, he exited with the worst possible card — the Jack of clubs. This put declarer back in hand, allowed trumps to be drawn and clubs to be cashed for ten tricks and +580.

Who was guilty? In the bidding, East was guilty of not rebidding his seven card heart suit at the three level. 3 was apparently bid across the room. In the play, West should not have overtaken the spade at trick two, should have ducked the first diamond, and might have helped partner by playing a heart back after taking the ace of diamonds. East fell from grace by not placing the K with his partner. Surely partner would have switched to hearts if he had Jxx or three small? This would have allowed him to exit with a heart instead of the J. So even after the bad start in the defence, declarer should have gone one off. -580 was woeful, but even one off would have been a disappointment as East/West assumed they could make game. However, it is worse than that! Assuming sensible bidding [Eh? —Ed] along the following lines:

6 is cold and 7 cold on anything except a club lead*. So -580 instead of +980, +1010 or +1510. Glad it wasn't teams; imagine returning to the home table with that!

* [It's been pointed out by a couple of people that 7 is cold on any lead, which of course it is. Could this be an example of second-degree poor bridge, where the analysis of the poor bridge is itself poor? Jim Grant leads the avant garde! —Ed]