BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x A Q J 7
u K 10 8
v K 8 7 3
w A 9
WEST EAST
x 4 x 3 2
u Q J 9 3 u A 7 6 5 4 2
v 9 v Q J 10 6
w J 10 7 6 5 4 3 w Q
SOUTH
x K 10 9 8 6 5
u Void
v A 5 4 2
w K 8 2
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1NT Pass 3x Pass
4w Pass 4v Pass
4x Pass 6x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of x
How early can you claim a contract that is not laydown but depends on the distribution? Test your analytical skills by deciding at which trick you can claim your slam on this deal.
In response to South's forcing jump in spades, North's four-club cue-bid showed a maximum no trump with good spade support and first-round control of clubs. South cue-bid diamonds in return and, when North did not show another first-round control, South opted for six spades.
West led the queen of hearts and, based on the first trick, South could claim the contract as long as trumps split 2-1. The opening lead marked West with the jack of hearts and East with the ace, and South needed to know no more. Two rounds of trumps were drawn, followed by the ace and king of diamonds. Had the suit divided 3-2, declarer would have conceded a diamond and claimed the rest of the tricks. But a worse diamond division did not faze declarer.
When West showed out on the second diamond, declarer led the king of hearts, covered by the ace and ruffed in hand. The ace and king of clubs were cashed and a club was ruffed in dummy. Now the ten of hearts was led and, instead of ruffing, South discarded a diamond from hand. Whether West returned a heart or a club after capturing the ten of hearts, declarer would ruff in dummy and discard the remaining diamond.
What if West held the long diamonds? Instead of leading the king of hearts to ruff out the ace, declarer would ruff the ten of hearts and after clearing clubs, lead the king of hearts to East's ace. Now it would be East who was trapped in the same endplay as above.
& copy;2004, Tribune Media Services