bridge
bridge
Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
xQ J 8
uK J 6 5 2
vK 6 4
wA 10
WEST EAST
xK 9 5 3 x7 6 4 2
u10 8 7 3 uQ 4
vQ 2 v10 8 7 5
w9 8 6 w5 4 2
SOUTH
xA 10
uA 9
vA J 9 3
wK Q J 7 3
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2NT Pass 4w Pass
4v Pass 7NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Nine of w
This problem appeared in “International Popular Bridge Monthly” a while back. Can you make the grand slam after the lead of the nine of clubs?
North’s four-club response was asking for aces and South showed three first-round controls. North decided that his fifth heart merited going for the grand slam.
You have only 10 fast tricks, so it seems that you have to go after hearts for the three additional tricks you need to succeed. However, do not put all your eggs in one basket and start on hearts. There are other chances that could improve the odds.
Win the opening lead with the ace it can’t cost to cash the ace and king of diamonds first. You are rewarded when the queen drops, so you now finesse East for the marked ten of diamonds and clear the suit, discarding a spade honor from dummy. Your chances have improved dramatically — you can try now to cash the ace and king of hearts and, if the queen does not drop, fall back on the spade finesse. That proves unnecessary when the queen of hearts drops and you are home with one spade trick, three hearts, four diamonds and five clubs!
2012 Tribune Media Services