North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 7 3

uA Q J 10 6 4

v9

wA K 7

WEST EAST

xJ 10 8 x6 2

u9 8 uK 7 3 2

vK 6 5 2 vJ 10 8 4

wQ 6 4 2 wJ 10 3

SOUTH

xA Q 9 5 4

u5

vA Q 7 3

w9 8 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 3u Pass

3x Pass 4w Pass

4v Pass 5x Pass

6x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of w

Playing for an overtrick at the expense of a slam is seldom recommended. At rubber bridge, the very thought is too appalling for words. And at duplicate, there is no guarantee that every other pair will bid the slam, so an overtrick quest can turn a better than average score into a zero.

North-South reached the excellent spade slam in short order. North’s jump to five spades patterned out the hand’s distribution and asked South about trump quality and, with two of the three trump honors, South had no qualms about bidding six spades.

West led the deuce of clubs, taken with dummy’s king. Declarer drew trumps in three rounds, ending in hand, and led a heart to the ten. East made a fine defensive play by holding up the king of hearts. The ace of hearts was cashed, South discarding a diamond as both defenders followed low. Declarer continued with the queen of hearts. When East produced the seven, declarer, convinced that West held the king, the only outstanding heart, ruffed — and the roof fell in. The best declarer could do now was to cross to a high club and try the diamond finesse — down two.

East defended superbly, but it was silly of South to risk the slam. Instead of ruffing, he should simply have sluffed another diamond. Whether or not that won the trick, there were enough hearts in dummy to take care of declarer’s remaining losers to ensure at least 12 tricks.

Incidentally, the percentage play in hearts is to lead the ace, then take a ruffing finesse. If the hearts are 5-1, you will know soon enough whether the diamond finesse is needed to land the contract.

2010 Tribune Media Services