The bidding is straightforward East has an 18 point hand; so using a ‘rule of thumb’ that states that every time you hold 3 points (value of a King) above a minimum opening bid of, say, 12 points, you can add one trick: so with 15 points raise to 3H and 18 points raise to 4H.

South on lead knows that with this type of bidding you usually lead a trump: holding a singleton this guiding principle can give away a trick if you lead a small card, but holding an honour you can lead it.

East can see 9 tricks on top, but must be wary of the lead of the trump 10, which often signifies a singleton. So win in hand, play off the AK of clubs and enter dummy with the heart King. Lead, a low club from dummy and ruff in hand, thus setting up the club suit; lead a trump back to dummy and lead a fourth club; North will probably ruff, but don’t over-ruff, discard a diamond loser. You need to keep two trumps to retain control of the hand and thus make your contract by means of your fourth spade.

Results

1HE +4; 2NTE +1; 3HE +1 (twice); 4HE -1 (twice)

N-S 1^st J Fitzhenry & S Purdon…….66.7%

        2^nd H Clohessy & M Wesselo…59.4%

E-W 1^st E Rodrigues & K Tyndall  …62.7%

         2^nd D Ellender & R Wood …….53.6%