Bridge

I was in the club lounge, and Cy the Cynic's team was having a post-match "charge session," reviewing the match and assigning each other "charges" for bad bids and plays: black charges for clear errors, gray charges for questionable actions, white charges for unlucky losing actions. Each black charge cost the offender a quarter, and the money went to pay for pizza.

When today's deal came up, it turned out that both Souths had made 3NT.

"When I was declarer, I made an overtrick," Cy said. "West led the three of spades, and I took the king and gave myself an extra chance in diamonds by letting the nine ride in case West had the jack and ten. When East took the king, I won the spade return and ran the diamonds. I won five diamonds, two spades, two hearts and a club."

"Very good," said one of Cy's teammates. "We gained one IMP. Next deal."

"Hold it," the Cynic protested. "What happened at your table?"

"Declarer won the first spade and led a diamond to the queen. I won and returned a spade. He won, led a diamond to the ace and conceded a diamond. We cashed two spades, and he took the rest."

Did anyone merit a charge?

East gets a black charge for his defense. After South mishandled the diamonds, East could hold him to eight tricks by shifting to the king of clubs, a "Merrimac Coup." If South took the ace, dummy would have no entry to the diamonds. If South refused the trick, East would shift back to spades, and the defense would get two spades, two diamonds and a club.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S 9 5