Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 8 6 2

uA K J

vA Q 2

wQ J 7

WEST EAST

xK 10 9 5 4 x3

u9 8 5 u10 7 6 4 3

vK 10 8 5 v9 4 3

w2 wK 8 6 3

SOUTH

xA Q 7

uQ 2

vJ 7 6

wA 10 9 5 4

The bidding:

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

1wPass 1x Pass

1NT Pass 4NT Pass

6NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Nine of u

If you are going to bid aggressively, be sure your technique is up to the challenge. How would you play six no trump after the lead of the nine of hearts?

Without a stopper in either red suit, South might have been wiser to raise to two spades at his second turn rather than bid one no trump. North’s jump to four no trump was invitational and South elected to continue to slam since clubs was surely a source of tricks.

Declarer won the opening lead in dummy and realized that he stood little chance if the king of clubs was offside. At trick two he led the queen of clubs and, when it held, continued with the jack as West discarded a heart.

Declarer could count 11 tricks. Besides the diamond and spade finesses, a 3-3 spade break would also produce a 12th trick, so declarer continued by leading a spade to the queen. West took the king and cleverly switched to a diamond, forcing declarer to choose immediately between the finesse or the spade break. South opted for the 3-3 spade division (the finesse was the better mathematical chance) and could not take more than 11 tricks.

Declarer missed a better line. South should have taken another club finesse, ending in hand and then led a low spade to the jack! If West has the king, the jack will be the fulfilling trick. If the jack loses to the king in the East hand, no return can hurt declarer. He will have time to test the spade distribution and, if it is not favorable, fall back on the diamond finesse to make the slam.

2008 Tribune Media Services