BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x -A Q 9 8 4
u -A Q 6
v-9 4 2
w -A 7
WEST EAST
x -K 10 3 x -Void
u -J 8 2 u -9 5 4 3
v-K Q 7 v-8 6 5 3
w -8 5 3 2 w -J 10 9 6 4
SOUTH
x -J 7 6 5 2
u -K 10 7
v-A J 10
w -K Q
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 2NT Pass
4x Pass 5w Pass
5v Pass 5u Pass
6x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Five of w
Mirror holdings and aggressive bidding led to a poor slam. Fortunately, South had the technique to land his contract.
The auction was typical of a modern five-card-major style. North's two no trump was a forcing spade raise and South's jump to game showed a minimum and denied a singleton or void. North probably should have accepted that but, impressed by the three aces, he started a cue-bidding sequence. After the heart cue-bid, South might simply have bid five spades because of his weak trump suit, but he liked his cards in the suits partner cue-bid and contracted for 12 tricks.
West led his second-best club to show a poor suit, and South did not fancy his chances. There was a sure diamond loser, perhaps two, so trumps had to bought in without losing a trick in the suit. Since declarer had to find the king with West, he won in hand with queen and led the jack of spades from hand to protect against the possibility of a 3-0 split. West covered, and the king lost to the ace, East discarding a club.
Declarer returned to hand with the king of hearts, finessed for the 10 of spades and drew the outstanding trump. The last problem was in diamonds, but the solution was simple. Declarer cleared the club and heart winners from his hand and dummy, then led a diamond from the table and inserted the 10. West won with the queen but was trapped. A diamond return would be into declarer's tenace, and a heart or club return would allow declarer to ruff in one hand while discarding a diamond from the other. Either way, declarer had held his losses to just one diamond.
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services