“Magic Mirror on the wall,” intoned the evil queen, “who’s the best player of them all?”

“Thou O queen art a declarer rare,” the Mirror replied nervously, “but recent tournament results make Snow White best. Indeed, I taught her myself.”

“What!” raged the queen. “We’ll see about that.”

In the next castle tournament the queen’;s team opposed Snow White in a final match. At one table, the queen played at 3NT as South, making three.

In the replay, where Happy and Snow White sat North-South, Happy bid in character, driving to six clubs. When West led a trump, it seemed declarer could take five trumps, two hearts, two heart ruffs in dummy, the ace of spades and a diamond — only 11 tricks.

“She goes down and we win,” the queen cackled.

Snow White won the first trick in dummy, finessed in hearts, took the ace of spades and led a diamond. West won and led a second trump. Snow White won in dummy, ruffed a spade, went to dummy’s high diamond, ruffed a spade, took the ace of hearts, ruffed a heart and ruffed a spade at Trick 11.

Dummy was left with a good spade and a trump; declarer had a heart and the ten of diamonds. West, still to play, had a trump, the jack of diamonds and the jack of hearts. If he threw a jack, South would lead her winner in that suit and would be sure of the last two tricks. And if West underruffed, dummy would be high.

Making six (on a “backwash squeeze!”), and Snow White’ team prevailed. Her play reflected well, let us say, on her mentor the Magic Mirror.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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