Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x K 9 7 4

u A 4 3

v J 7 6

w 7 6 3

WESTEAST

x Q 10 5 3x Void

u Q 8 5u J 10 9 7

v 10 8 5v 9 4 3

w Q 10 2w K J 9 8 5 4

SOUTH

x A J 8 6 2

u K 6 2

v A K Q 2

w A

The bidding:

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

2wPass2vPass

2xPass3xPass

4NTPass5uPass

6xPassPassPass

Opening lead: Five of v

Don’t let a hand that looks easy lull you into a false sense of complacency. The shoals of distribution can exact a heavy penalty on carelessness.

After South’s artificial game force and North’s waiting response, the rest of the auction was normal. South’s four no trump was key-card Blackwood, where the king of trumps counts as a fifth ace, and five hearts showed two key cards and denied the queen of trumps.

West led a diamond and declarer was delighted with the contract. As long as trumps were no worse than 3-1, he could concede a trump, discard a losing heart from dummy on the fourth diamond and claim his slam. Declarer won the diamond in hand, crossed to the ace of hearts and led a trump. East’s club discard was a fatal blow — declarer could not avoid losing a trump and a heart.

With a bit of care, declarer can get home. At trick three, he must lead a low trump from hand! South simply covers any spade West produces. If it loses to East, the ace and king will extract the remaining trumps and declarer can ruff his heart loser on the table.

When East shows out on the first spade, declarer simply goes about his business. He cashes the two high trumps, and starts running diamonds. West can ruff at any time, but South scores the rest of the tricks with the help of a heart ruff.

2009 Tribune Media Services