Both TGRs and Young Chelsea run highly successful League matches on alternate Wednesday evenings. Organised impeccably by Gitte Hecht-Johansen, you play 24 boards against the seven other teams in your division, the two teams coming last getting relegated. It is wonderful practice for players who want to test their bidding skills and declarer play in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. That’s not to say it’s a vicar’s tea party – just nicely in the middle with very tempting prize money to boot. Leading the field at TGRs is John Cox’s team who bid and made a slam on today’s hand.

John was playing with his regular partner, Peter Taylor. The first table reached 3NT, but Peter and John saw the potential for greater heights. John showed a positive hand with 3♣️, and Peter made the practical raise to 6♣️. What would your plan be on the lead of the ♠️King?

You may want to try and endplay East in Hearts, as he’s favourite to hold the ♥️King. Unfortunately, South’s pips in Hearts were very poor, and West is likely to be able to insert a medium Heart on the first round to stop his partner getting endplayed. John recognised this, and found a much more elegant line: he drew trumps, ending in hand, and advanced the ♠️Jack , covered by the Queen and ruffed. He then eliminated Diamonds in three rounds and exited with the ♠️9. When West couldn’t produce the ten, a Heart was discarded from dummy and East inevitably got thrown in!

Nicely done and a well-deserved 12 Imps to complete the rout.