THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY.................................................................................

• Top of nothing : term used to describe the winners of consolation finals
• Double dummy : what declarer sees when overdoing the alcoholic refreshments during the interval
• RHO : a southpaw, who always leads off with a few probing jabs
• Trump reduction : a technique involving ruffing dummy's side suit winners ; rarely used except by tight-arsed expert players
• Spot card : what many defenders fail to do. By not registering the fact that a certain card has already been played, they inevitably foul up the defence later on
• Claim : the reckless practice of impatient declarers, who either get it wrong or fail to give a full and clear explanation of how the remaining tricks are to be won