bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA J 6 3

uK 10 7 2

vA K

wK J 6

WEST EAST

x7 2 x10 9 5

uQ 6 5 u8 3

v10 9 4 3 vQ J 7 6 2

wQ 7 3 2 w8 5 4

SOUTH

xK Q 8 4

uA J 9 4

v8 5

wA 10 9

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1u Pass

4u Pass 6u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of v

As we enter the second half of the year, let’s test to see whether we have helped you improve your game over the last six months. Cover up the East-West hands and decide how you, South, would play six hearts after the lead of the ten of diamonds.

You have reached a heart slam on a simple power auction. After West leads the ten of diamonds, did you make 11, 12 or all 13 tricks?

If you took l3 tricks, you are a good guesser! If you won only 11, let’s hope you are luckier in the second half of the year. If you scored exactly 12 tricks, you either got only one finesse right or you are an excellent technician!

If hearts are 3-2, you can claim 12 tricks by refusing to take any finesse at all. Win the opening diamond lead and cash the ace and king of hearts. When both opponents follow, the slam is on ice even though the queen does not drop. Cash the remaining high diamond honor and the eliminate spades. It does not help the defender with the remaining trump to ruff, but that is of no importance. You are down to nothing but clubs and trumps in both your hand and dummy. Simply toss a defender in with the queen of hearts. That defender either must return a club, removing any guess in the suit, or give you a ruff-sluff, allowing you to ruff in one hand while discarding your club loser from the other. Simple, is it not?

2011 Tribune Media Services