BRIDGE

On reading her book, it soon becomes clear that Sabine Auken's feelings towards bridge are aptly encapsulated by the title 'I Love This Game' (Master Point Press). The book centres on the last 16 boards of the 2001 World Championships final, when Germany trailed France by 47 IMPs, yet came through to win Gold.

This hand features Sabine's teammate, Pony Nehmert. The contract is Five Diamonds, reached after East opened One Club, then rebid the suit.

If spades break no worse than 4-2, or if one of the heart honours is onside, 11 tricks are there. But even if the cards lay unkindly - and in fact they did - Nehmert had spotted an extra chance.

She won the club lead then drew just two rounds of trumps. With the bidding suggesting that East held most, if not all of the honour cards, Nehmert then ruffed her second club and continued with the king of spades from dummy.

East won, but was endplayed. Rather than lead into dummy's hearts, she returned a club, giving a ruff and discard. South ruffed with dummy's last trump and discarded a heart from hand. When East showed out on the jack of spades that followed, declarer's foresight in not drawing West's last trump was rewarded.

The queen of spades saw another heart depart, and a spade ruff placed Nehmert in her hand to draw the last trump. Just one further trick - a heart - had to be lost.

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