Bridge

THIS DEAL, from a friendly England-Sweden match played in 1987, featured a smooth defensive play by England's Tony Forrester.

South opened a Mini No-trump (10-12 points) and was raised directly, if optimistically, to game by North. Against Three No-trumps, West's natural lead of the seven of hearts ran round to the jack and declarer was off to a good start. The club suit had to be developed, however, and at trick 2 a low club went to the king.

Had Forrester, as East, won this and switched to spades, South would have held up until the third round. Then, after crossing to dummy, he would have led and run the nine of clubs - a standard avoidance play to establish the rest of the suit without letting East, with his two winning spades, gain the lead.

It did not go like that. When the king of clubs was played from dummy, Forrester followed smoothly with his four (I said that it was a smooth defence). You can see the effect - when the jack appeared on the second round of clubs, declarer ducked in the hope that West had started with the doubleton ace. This left East on lead and now he switched to a low spade.

South ducked this and, after winning with his jack, West cleared the suit. Still without any premonition of disaster, declarer played another club, expecting West to win, after which it would be all over. Oh dear! It was East who unexpectedly produced the ace and was able to cash his remaining spades for a two-trick defeat.