The Reykjavik Bridge Festival is one of my favourites – two days pairs and two days teams. Brilliantly organised, friendly and a very high standard – what’s not to love?

I played with Artur Mali, and Thor Erik Hoffa found himself a new partner, 15-year-old Nicolai Heiberg-Evenstad, a Norwegian Junior of limitless talent, who lives, breathes and dreams bridge.

Today’s hand was played by me for 1 off. I should have heeded that old adage: when you have made a plan look for a better one.

My 2♠ was weak. 3NT would have been a breeze but, understandably, 4♠ was the contract in both rooms.

West led a high Heart. I won and ruffed a Heart in hand, drew two rounds of trumps and ruffed the last Heart. All I had to do was find a way to make those four losers in the minor suits into three.

One option is to play West for both K and Q of Clubs, but when I played a Club towards dummy, West inserted the 9, so that didn’t look too likely. Instead, I won the Ace of Clubs and exited a Club to East, who was forced to play a Diamond. This was ducked to West, who could cash the ♣Q and return a Diamond. Unfortunately, East still had K10 over dummy’s J9 and I went one off.

Up popped The Kid. ‘Did you count the hand?’ he enquired politely. ‘When East won the second Club and played a Diamond, he clearly has no more Clubs. Since Hearts are almost certainly 5-4, East must be 1-5-5-2. The right move is to rise with the ◆A and exit in either Clubs or Diamonds, after which the defence can’t take their four winners.’

Cheers, Kid. And well played.