I started playing Bridge as a student in 1980, when some friends needed a fourth and persuaded me to have a go. Like many of Oxfordshire's Bridge players, I am a mathematician by training. I work in a business which develops and sells computer software for engineers.

For me, defence is the most enjoyable part of Bridge. All my partners will tell you that my bidding is atrocious, and my declarer play is little better. But most people aren't too good at defending, so I fit in well in that area.

Thus, my first hand is a defensive problem from the regular Tuesday County Pairs at Oxford Bridge Club - I was partnering Brian Claridge.

Playing West, I open 2§ (Precision) and the bidding proceeds:

Brian's middle name is Action (B.A.Claridge). There is no way he will allow our opponents to play in 3¨ undoubled. But as you can see, the cards lie well for North-South.

I lead §A, and Brian plays §2 (we play low to encourage).

"How can we beat this contract? If it makes we'll get a big fat zero."

Since I always prefer a line that involves deception, I lead ªQ at trick two. Declarer ducks (wouldn't you?), allowing me to cash ªA, followed by a club to Brian's Queen and a spade ruff to defeat the contract. Phew, that was close!

The second hand was played seventeen years ago, at a congress in Llangollen (a Pairs session), but I remember it like it was yesterday.

I am South, and I hear my partner open 3¨ (guaranteeing a seven card suit). All I care about now is whether my partner has ¨K. We play standard Blackwood, so I ask for Aces (4NT), just so that I can subsequently ask for Kings. Partner bids 5§ to show no Aces (not surprising). We slide to ask for Kings, so I skip the trump suit and bid 5©. If partner shows one King, then I intend to assume this is ¨K and bid the Grand slam. But I never get the opportunity.

Partner looks at his singleton heart, and convinces himself that I have a long solid heart suit - so he passes. I am declarer in five hearts, with ©2 as my only trump!

After the bidding has been explained to the defenders (who are friends of ours), and "table talk" makes it obvious that partner and I had a little misunderstanding, West announces that he has six trumps. East says, "so have I partner".

I am too embarrassed to call the Tournament Director and complain about our opponents' unethical behaviour.

But at least I have a favourable trump break.......