By Entrée ce Seer

Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo was in no small measure due to the last minute arrival of Blucher’s Prussian forces. This deal might be said to echo that.

Dealer West North/South Vul

ª 4 3 2 © 4 3 2 ¨ 4 3 2 § 5 4 3 2

My partner is a solid enough performer, but the rubber is going badly when I pick up a hand of a type that both I and my Bank Manager are all too familiar. In the hope of creating a diversion I decide to open Three Hearts. This appears to give North a problem, but eventually he doubles. When partner redoubles, I have to announce a convention. His bid shows heart support, but suggests there is no future in leading the suit. I suspect that Three Hearts redoubled may be a trifle expensive, but South is from the old school and he trots out Blackwood. After discovering North has two aces and a king he bids 7NT

This is the full auction:

West	North	East	South
3©	Dble	Redbl	4NT*
Pass	5© *	Pass	5NT*
Pass	6¨*	Pass	7NT
All Pass

Prospects are poor, but in any event I must clearly try and find a lead to pressurise the declarer. As partner did not double Six Diamonds it is a choice of black suits and eventually I decide on a slightly deceptive four of spades.

	ª K J 10 © J 6 5 ¨ A Q 6 5 § A Q 6
ª 4 3 2 © 4 3 2 ¨ 4 3 2 § 5 4 3 2

South does not appear discomforted and he proceeds to cash three top spades, partner showing an even number, followed by three top hearts, partner again revealing four. It occurs to me that Three Hearts redoubled would not have been a picnic. Now declarer takes the ace, queen and king of diamonds, partner producing the jack and ten, followed by the ace, queen, and king of clubs. I have to follow all the way, but in the hope of causing some confusion I play the three, five and four. For once it is appropriate to show the one card ending:

	ª - © - ¨ 5 § -
ª - © - ¨ - § 2		ª 9 © - ¨ - § -
	ª - © - ¨ - § -

South, who is busy entering the score, receives a rude awakening when his partner points out that he has not yet played to trick thirteen. Despite a thorough search there is no sign of the missing card and in accordance with Law 79 I find myself on lead for the second time. My goodness! I am going to take a trick with the two of clubs.
This was the full deal:

	ª K J 10 © J 6 5 ¨ A Q 6 5 § A Q 6
ª 4 3 2 © 4 3 2 ¨ 4 3 2 § 5 4 3 2		ª 9 8 6 5 © 10 9 8 7 ¨ J 10 § 10 9 8
	ª A Q 7 © A K Q ¨ K 9 8 (7) § K J 7

Partner remarks that he remembered the convention but this is lost on South, who has just realised that he would have won trick thirteen with the seven of diamonds, especially useful when Dom Perignon is the order of the day.