It was springtime and the Beast was in love. Beauty, however,
enjoyed Beast's company strictly for his bridge game and
refused his advances. Meanwhile, it was difficult for Beast to
play his best with her -- he was so nervous. One day, however,
in a local club game (they played 2 sessions per day together),
Beast made such a nice play that Beauty succumbed.

It all began when Beast had to decide whether to open one
spade or two clubs with his strong hand.

 South Beast
   K J 8 7 4 3
   Q
   A J
   A K Q 6

Opening lead: 7

Beast opened one spade (With two suits it usually pays to
open at the one level, he confided to his children many years
later.)

Beauty's five-diamond bid showed one ace, and Beast was
sorry he had used Blackwood when East doubled. Beast bid
the slam anyway, hoping to find Beauty with the ace of spades,
and then he could use his clubs to discard diamonds. West
(a handsome prince) led a diamond, and now Beast had to
decide how to rid himself of a diamond loser -- fast! How
should Beast play it?

 South Beast
   K J 8 7 4 3
   Q
   A J
   A K Q 6

Opening lead: 7

Beast captured East's queen of diamonds with his ace and
led the queen of hearts. West played the king and the ace
won the trick. On the jack of hearts, the jack of diamonds
was thrown. Then came the 10 of spades. East played the
ace. Making six!

 South Beast
   K J 8 7 4 3
   Q
   A J
   A K Q 6

Opening lead: 7

When Beauty opened the traveling score, she saw -50's and
+450's but nobody else had made 12 tricks. She almost
swooned as she wrote 980 into the traveler and looked at
Beast in a new light. The prince said: "Everyone else cashed
their clubs to discard diamonds and West was able to ruff in
on the third round." "His clubs," said Beast, a grammar expert.

I'll marry you, Beauty said to Beast, on one condition. You
must tell me why you chose to finesse hearts rather than play
three high clubs.

I'll tell you on our wedding night, he answered, for in truth
Beast had no intention of finessing hearts, but played the queen
only in case West covered. But he didn't want to tell Beauty
that in front of West, because he planned someday to use the
trick again on him.

You must tell me at the engagement party, said Beauty,
and, by the way, I like diamonds, large ones.

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 South Beast
   K J 8 7 4 3
   Q
   A J
   A K Q 6

South 1 4NT 6

West pass pass all pass

North 4 5

East pass double

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