Joan Butts has been the head of the national teaching programme for the Australian Bridge Federation for many years. We know she can teach, but can she play? Butts was South, in today’s deal.
Butts won the opening heart lead with the ace, crossed to her hand with the ace of clubs, and led a low diamond to dummy’s 10. That was a good start! A diamond back to her queen and West’s ace revealed the trump position. West, trying to protect his jack of trumps, continued with a second heart, ruffed in hand by Butts. Declarer tried to sneak the nine of spades through West, but West wasn’t buying, rising with the ace of spades to play a third round of hearts. Butts ruffed, leaving this position:
Butts continued with two rounds of spades, discarding hearts from dummy. West couldn’t ruff without losing his trump trick. Butts played two rounds of clubs, ending in her hand, and another spade finished West, who had to play a trump in front of dummy’s king-seven. Well played by a fine player.