bridge

June 3, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 4

u8 7 6 5 4

vA K 10 7

w4 2

WEST EAST

x10 7 5 2 x9 8 6

uA u9 2

vJ 9 8 vQ 6 5 4 3

wK Q 10 9 3 w8 6 5

SOUTH

xK Q J 3

uK Q J 10 3

wA J 7

The bidding:

SOUTH EAST NORTH WEST

1u Pass 2NT Pass

4v Pass 4x Pass

5w Pass 5v Pass

6u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of w

Study all four hands in the above diagram and decide: Would you rather play or defend six hearts after the lead of the king of clubs?

North’s two no trump was a forcing heart raise and the jump in diamonds showed a singleton. After an exchange of cue-bids revealed that a second-round club control was missing, North-South settled in a small slam in hearts.

You have enough information to elect to play, and West leads the king of clubs. After winning the opening lead with the ace, you cash three rounds of spades, discarding the table’s remaining club. However, when you now lead trumps West wins with the ace and leads his remaining spade, and East’s nine of hearts becomes the setting trick.

However, that does not mean that you opt to defend — you just need to time the hand better. Before leading a trump, cash the ace and king of diamonds, discarding your winning spade. Now lead a trump and the defense is powerless — you can overruff the fourth spade and claim.

Is six hearts a good slam at rubber bridge? It is unwise to risk hard cash when you can bank a rubber bonus, but here your slam is a better than a 75 percent shot, and the vulnerable slam bonus makes it worth the risk.

2010 Tribune Media Services