Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x A J 7 5 4 3 2
u A 4
v 5
w K 4 2
WEST EAST
x 10 8 x K Q 6
u K J 9 3 2 u Q 10 7 5
v Q 9 4 v J 10 8 6 2
w 10 6 3 w 9
SOUTH
x 9
u 8 6
v A K 7 3
w A Q J 8 7 5
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1x Pass
27 Pass 3w Pass
4w Pass 4x Pass
4NT Pass 5w Pass
5NT Pass 6w Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Three of u
Even when you can see how to come to 12 tricks, there could be hidden pitfalls. South's problem here was to come to hand often enough without risking an overruff.
North-South conducted an intelligent auction. In the modern style, after a reverse bid the return to South's original suit created a game force. That permitted South to stress his club length by rebidding the suit, enabling North to cue-bid at the four-level. Key-Card Blackwood, where the king of trumps counts as an ace, elicited the information that North held three controls but no other king, so South settled in the small slam.
West led a low heart, and declarer could count 12 tricks -- six trumps, two diamonds, the two major-suit aces and two diamond ruffs in dummy. The problem was to avoid an overruff or setting up a trump trick for the enemy. Declarer solved his problem with a neat loser-on-loser play.
The first trick was taken with the ace of hearts. South crossed to the ace of diamonds and ruffed a diamond on the table. The ace of spades was cashed and a low spade was led, declarer discarding his losing heart.
East defended as well as possible by continuing with his remaining spade. Declarer countered by ruffing high and then trumping another diamond with the four of clubs. South could then cash the king of clubs, safely ruff a heart back to hand, draw trumps and claim the rest of the tricks.
XThis column is written by Tannah Hirsch and Omar Sharif. For information about Charles Goren's newsletter for bridge players, call (800) 788-1225 or write Goren Bridge Letter, P.O. Box 4410, Chicago, Ill. 60680. Send e-mail to gorenbridge@aol.com.
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