This is the swinging defence hand that was dealt at the Hirabaug T/4 on Thursday (Deal 37).
South leads the SK against a normal 3NT contract played by East. (Not the Q, because that would promise a holding of KQ109.. partner is asked to unblock the J if he has it, or give count.)
South led the ♠K, ducked by E.
South now found the only shift to retain a chance for the defence - a heart.
North won the ♥A and played a spade through declarer's AJ.
East has to perforce duck again.. South wins the ♠10 and plays?
South should realise that his hand will play no further part in the defence.. To beat the contract, North must have one of the minor Kings and precisely ♥ AQJ.. so South reverts back to hearts!
Now, when North enters with the ♣K, he can cash the ♥Q for the setting trick.
The beauty of this hand is that declarer can do nothing about it.. all his actions are forced.
| NS No. | EW No. | NS Score |
| 19 | 17 | -400 |
| 20 | 16 | -400 |
| 21 | 15 | -400 |
| 1 | 14 | +50 |
| 2 | 13 | -430 |
| 3 | 12 | -400 |
| 4 | 11 | +150 |
| 11 | 4 | -400 |
| 12 | 3 | -430 |
| 13 | 2 | -400 |
| 14 | 1 | -430 |
| 15 | 21 | -400 |
| 16 | 20 | -400 |
| 17 | 19 | -400 |
As we can see, only one table got +50.. team no. 1 -> Bapat team.. I don'td know who were the NS pair, and what the final contract was on their table.
Team 4 also got a positive result (+150), but that looks like a freak result.