Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman statesman and orator, said, “Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself.”

There are a few bridge experts who so trust their reading of a deal that they confidently play anti-percentage. For example, there are Jeff Meckstroth, who lives in Florida, and Peter Fredin from Sweden, who was the declarer in this deal.

Against five spades, West led his lowest club. East took the trick and shifted to the diamond king. What happened after that?

The deal occurred during the European Bridge League’s 13th Champions Cup in Milan. Most Souths took 10 tricks, losing one spade, one diamond and one club.

Note Fredin’s careful three-heart rebid. He was always going to bid four spades, but wanted partner to judge what to do if, for example, West raised immediately to five clubs. Then, after West passed, North jumped to four spades, accepting what he thought was a game-try by his partner. So, when East rebid five clubs, South was happy to compete to five spades.

Fredin knew that East had long and strong clubs. He thought that if he also had king-doubleton or king-third of spades, he would have overcalled three no-trump, not three clubs. So, placing West with the spade king, Fredin won the second trick with the diamond ace and led his spade jack.

West, never guessing what was happening, played low. Now Fredin took 12 tricks: six spades, five hearts and one diamond.