BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x A K 4 3
u Q 2
v A J 10 3
w A K 7
WEST EAST
x Void x Q 9 7
u J 10 9 8 7 5 u K 6 4
v 9 5 4 v Q 7 6
w 9 4 3 2 w J 10 8 5
SOUTH
x J 10 8 6 5 2
u A 3
v K 8 2
w Q 6
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
2NT Pass 3x Pass
4w Pass 4u Pass
4NT Pass 5v Pass
5NT Pass 6v Pass
6x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Jack of u
Some players cannot resist a finesse. More often than not, it should be your second choice!
After receiving a three-spade response to his opening two no trump, North showed a maximum opening with good spade support by cue-bidding four clubs. When South showed the key heart control in response, North launched into Blackwood. Five no trump not only confirmed all the aces, but invited a grand slam. South showed some interest by showing a king, but North decided six spades was enough.
West led the jack of hearts, covered by the queen and king and taken with the ace. South received a minor setback when West discarded a heart on declarer's lead of the six of spades. There are those who would now embark on a diamond finesse and hope it was their lucky day to help choose the right way to take the finesse. Instead, South set about demonstrating that the slam could not be lost.
The ace and king of spades were cashed, followed by three rounds of clubs, declarer discarding the losing heart. A heart was ruffed in the closed hand. Now declarer simply exited with a trump, and East was left without resource. A diamond would solve declarer's problem in that suit while any other plain-suit lead would permit declarer to discard a diamond from hand while ruffing on the table. Six spades bid and made.
& copy; 2004, Tribune Media Services