Both vulnerable. West deals.

Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x9 8 7 4

uQ 6 5

v7 6 4 2

w8 6

WEST EAST

x3 x6 2

u10 9 4 uA K J 8 7 3 2

vQ 10 9 5 vJ

wJ 9 7 4 2 wQ 5 3

SOUTH

xA K Q J 10 5

uVoid

vA K 8 3

wA K 10

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass 2u 6x

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of u

Study the bidding and play of this deal and decide: Was the result normal or did someone err?

South’s jump to six spades over the two-heart pre-empt was a fair shot. Change North’s queen of hearts to a minor-suit queen and 12 tricks would have been laydown.

Declarer ruffed the opening lead, drew trumps in two rounds ending in dummy and ruffed another heart. The ace and king of diamonds were cashed, revealing that declarer had two losers in the suit. He cleared the top clubs and ruffed a club on the table, then exited with the queen of hearts. When East covered, declarer discarded a diamond instead of ruffing. On lead with nothing but hearts, East was forced to concede a ruff and discard, and declarer’s diamond loser vanished.

With any other lead, the slam must fail. Who was to blame?

No one! The lead was normal and it was just unfortunate that it led to declarer making 12 tricks. Once in a while a deal like this crops up where, looking at all the hands, a contract is unmakable but a blind opening lead could give declarer the contract.

2008 Tribune Media Services