BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x Q 10 9 8 5 2
u A Q J
v 9 8
w 5 4
WEST EAST
x 4 3 x 6
u 6 3 u 7 5 4 2
v ? 7 5 4 v ? 10 6 3
w ? 9 7 6 3 w ? J 8 2
SOUTH
x A K J 7
u K 10 9 8
v A Q 2
w K 10
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2NT Pass 3u Pass
4x Pass 5u Pass
6v Pass 6x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Three of x
Sometimes, you have more than one line to give you a chance to land your contract. Before guessing which to choose, see if you can combine them at no risk.
North's three-heart response to South's two-no-trump opening was a transfer to spades, and South jumped to show a maximum with good support. Two cue-bids highlighted the fact that the ace of clubs was missing, and six spades by South became the final contract.
West led a trump, and the moment dummy hit the table declarer could see the problem. To land 12 tricks South had to find East with either the ace of clubs or king of diamonds. However, guessing wrong would be fatal -- the moment declarer lost a trick, the defense would be able to cash the setting trick. Was there any way to test both lines without risking the slam on a fatal decision?
Yes indeed. Declarer won the opening lead and drew the outstanding trump, then cashed four rounds of hearts, discarding a club from dummy. South crossed to the table with a trump and led the remaining club. If East held the ace, the club king would either win if East played low or provide a discard of a diamond if East rose with the ace -- declarer rises with the ace if East then shifts to a diamond. If the king of clubs loses to the ace, declarer has time to fall back on the diamond finesse in an effort to bring home the spade slam.
& copy; 2004 Tribune Media Services