Neither vulnerable. South deals.

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x10

u10 5 3 2

vK J 9 4 3

wK Q 9

WEST EAST

xK J 9 6 5 4 xQ 7 2

uJ 6 u7

vA Q 6 v10 8 7 5 2

w7 5 wJ 10 3 2

SOUTH

xA 8 3

uA K Q 9 8 4

vVoid

wA 8 6 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

6u! Pass 7u Pass

Pass Dbl Pass Pass

Rdbl!! Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Six of x

The number of youths playing in national events is slowly increasing. North-South on this hand from a Knockout Team event at the recent ACBL Fall North American Championships in Boston were Jori Grossack and her 16-year-old son Adam from Newtown, Mass.

Disdaining a probing auction, Adam bid what he hoped he could make. His mother, showing infinite faith in her offspring, raised to the grand slam and West elected to double. Grievously insulted, Adam redoubled.

The play did not take long. Since there was a singleton spade in dummy, declarer had nothing to worry about other than his fourth club. He won the opening lead with the ace, ruffed a spade, returned to hand with a diamond ruff, trumped his remaining spade and ruffed another diamond. Trumps were drawn in two rounds, declarer crossed to the board with the king of clubs and ruffed another diamond, fetching the ace. Since the king of diamonds would take care of the fourth club, declarer could claim his slam without having to worry about a 4-2 club split.

2009 Tribune Media Services