This was an interesting hand in many ways. Firstly what if anything should North open? Against Irene and me he went for a weak 2 because of the vulnerability. Some good players passed. In my view 3H is obvious. Sometimes it goes wrong but more often you upset the opponents and in this case make 11 tricks. If North starts 3H it would proceed pass 4H double pass and now is it obvious for East to bid 4S?

As it went I played 4S on H Ace lead ruffed in dummy North following low. My problem was that Ace and another trump might lead to opponents drawing trumps and cashing hearts even if trumps break. Accordingly I ducked a spade and ruffed the heart continuation. Now the Ace of trumps and playing on diamonds saw me home for loss of just one heart and two trumps. I could have gone off if South had given North a diamond ruff at trick 3 but that is hard. Perhaps North should signal wuth a high heart at trick one. If I read the hand I could still make by playing Ace and anither trump since they cannot draw trumps. I doubt that I would have managed that.

Congratulations to Derbyshire who won the Dawes and Markham matches and provided an excellent tea.