– By TANNAH HIRSCH

Tribune Media Services

Here’s another deal from trials to select a U.S. team for the world championships some years ago. In the other room, Bob Hamman and Zia Mahmood reached three no trump with the North-South cards — not too successful after the defenders started with the ace, king and another diamond.

Here, North-South reached a better contract of four hearts and West, Frank “Nick” Nickell, found the only defense to defeat the contract. He too started with the ace and king of diamonds and continued with a third diamond, presenting declarer with a useless ruff-sluff.

Declarer ruffed in dummy, discarding a club from hand, cashed the ace of clubs and king and queen of spades, then led the king of clubs, which he ruffed in hand. Next came the ace of spades, followed by the nine, ruffed on the table as West pitched a diamond. No matter what declarer now led from the table, Nickell had to score two trump tricks for a one-trick set.

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