bridge

August 4, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA Q 6

uA 9 5 2

vA J 7

wK 10 3

WEST EAST

x7 2 x8 5 4

uK Q J 8 u10 7 4 3

v6 4 2 vQ 10 9 8

w9 6 5 4 w7 2

SOUTH

xK J 10 9 3

vK 5 3

wA Q J 8

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1x Pass

3NT Pass 4w Pass

4x Pass 4NT Pass

5w Pass 5NT Pass

7x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

Whenever there are good trumps in dummy and declarer has a short suit, consider making dummy the master hand. Here’s a case in point.

North’s jump to three no trump showed a hand stronger than a one-no-trump opening and the grand slam was soon reached. West led the king of hearts and it was obvious that a successful finesse for the queen of diamonds would land the 13th trick.

However, there was a far better chance. A normal 3-2 trump break, an almost 70 percent probability, would yield 13 tricks. The beauty of the hand is that declarer can test his chances while leaving both lines open.

Declarer won the opening lead with dummy’s ace, and a heart was ruffed at once. Declarer cashed the king of spades and crossed to dummy with a trump to the queen. Had either defender showed out, declarer would have to draw trumps and rely on the diamond finesse. When both defenders followed, declarer’s grand slam was assured.

Declarer ruffed another heart high, returned to dummy with the king of clubs and ruffed the last heart with his remaining high trump. A diamond to the ace provided the entry to draw the last trump and declarer claimed the rest of the tricks. In all, South scored three trumps, three heart ruffs, one heart, two diamonds and four clubs — 13 tricks, count ’em!

2010 Tribune Media Services