bridge

June 6, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 4 2

uA J

vA 8 7 3

wK 7 6 2

WEST EAST

x8 5 xQ

uK Q 6 4 2 u10 9 8 7 5

vJ 9 6 vQ 10 5 2

wQ 10 5 wJ 4 3

SOUTH

xA K 10 9 7 6 3

vK 4

wA 9 8

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2w Pass

2x Pass 3x Pass

4NT Pass 5u Pass

5NT Pass 6w Pass

7x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

A grand slam is a rare animal. It is seldom a laydown, so declarer usually has to work to get home. This deal is from a team match at the recent ACBL Spring North American Championships in Reno. Sitting South was veteran Michael Cappelletti.

North’s two-over-one response was game forcing. After a series of natural bids North’s six clubs promised the king and South, who could count 12 tricks, naturally contracted for all 13.

West led the king of hearts, and the play did not take long. Declarer won the opening lead and played off five trump tricks, reducing the hand to this position:

x--

vA 8 7 3

wK 7

x-- x--

uQ u--

vJ 9 6 vQ 10 5 2

wQ 10 5 wJ 9 4

x6 3

u--

vK 4

wA 9 8

The king and ace of diamonds were cashed and a diamond was ruffed. When declarer now cashed his last trump, West, who had to keep the queen of hearts to guard against North’s knave, was forced to let go a club. Declarer ditched dummy’s now useless heart and East, who had to cover the table’s eight of diamonds, also had to part with a club. South now claimed three club tricks and the slam was home. A routine double squeeze.

2010 Tribune Media Services