A hand to prove that even Muff Muggins can get a lucky board:

Board N^o 24; NV v NV:

		S 974    
		H 854    
		D Q9652  
		C A8     
S K1086    			S J52      
H AKJ93    			H Q2       
D 7        			D 1043     
C KQ4      			C J10932   
		S AQ3  
		H 1076 
		D AKJ8 
		C 765  

W	N	E	S
	PARD		MM

			1NT
X	2D1	-	2H	
-	-	-              

1 Transfer

As the dummy was about to be spread, PARD began to explain .....

"Thanks partner" interjected Muggins, after all it was a better dummy than he was used to. A slightly unbalanced Yarborough was more like the standard hand.

PARD would not be outdone. "I was wondering whether we had discussed playing Exit Transfers. Should I transfer you into diamonds or should I bid diamonds naturally? Then the diamonds shone out and so did the bid."

Muggins obeyed his agreed orders by transferring and the lady in the West seat passed impeccably smoothly.

If you, the reader, study the cards closely, East/West can make 4H on good declarer play. On other tables after repeated diamond leads from the North/South pairs, nine tricks were the norm.

After an up and down evening, Muggins started laughing as he perused the dummy with distaste. It was not a pretty sight.

Taking control of himself Muggins counted his winners. The two black aces should yield two tricks and the diamonds might produce a trick or two. Anyway they should be useful for taking out trumps!

To his delight Muggins was able to win the first trick with the diamond ace (oh how he likes to win tricks with his aces). He tried cashing another diamond but alas his boss diamonds were losers.

Three tricks now seemed likely. Looking on the bright side he contemplated, perhaps the queen of spades would be a winner even though it seemed doubtful on the bidding. Four or five off undoubled, yes the contract was undoubled. Would -200 or -250 gain many match points he thought?..... No not a lot. The only contract to give Muggins any match points would be if East/West bid 4H. Those that might bid it probably would not make it. There was no Sam Spade or Basher Bates around to give Muggins any hope of it being made.

Then West decided to be kind to Muggins. After all, East/West had just taken one top off Muggins so West switched to a spade, Muggins's queen beating the jack. A club to the ace and another back put West back on lead again. West had recently been reading a chapter in her favourite bridge book explaining that a switch of suits can sometimes give more away than it gains. So she continued with a spade, the eight. Well Muggins couldn't resist covering with the nine, even if it would not win..... As the ace was being fingered, East played the two. Muggins pushed the ace back into his 'hand' and gently placed the three onto the baize.

Muggins couldn't believe his luck. Was it his birthday? No. Was he dreaming? He pinched himself. No he was not dreaming. Was the good fairy of Ardarmis changing his fortune? Whatever it was he thought that it was about time that something good happened to him. He tied a knot in his handkerchief to remind him to check his horoscope when he got back home, then he got back to business.

Play now speeded up. A club was ruffed, then a spade was returned to the ace. After all the defence might give him a ruff and discard on a spade lead. The trick count was now up to six, could any more be made..... Alas no. South's diamond lead was ruffed by West's nine and trumps were played, after all a spade would give a ruff and discard. The ace was followed by the king, East flicking the queen under the king. It was now clear to West what was to be done. Trumps were drawn and West proudly cashed her last spade at trick thirteen. Yes those spade leads did eventually force a spade winner.

So Muggins' got his lucky top. There has been a rumour that Muggins has retired from bridge whilst he's winning, and turning his thoughts to astrology!

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