BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable, South deals.

NORTH

xK J

uA 8 6 3

v9 2

wA J 8 6 4

WEST EAST

x4 xQ 10 9 7

u9 7 4 2 u5

vQ J 10 6 5 v8 7 4 3

w9 3 2 wK Q 10 5

SOUTH

xA 8 6 5 3 2

uK Q J 10

vA K

w7

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2w Pass

2u Pass 4u Pass

4NT Pass 5u Pass

6u All pass

Opening lead: Queen of v

This was the club’s monthly team competition, and Hard Luck Louie was hard at work. He didn’t think anyone would bid the grand slam, but he set out to take all 13 tricks anyway. He won the opening diamond lead with the ace and cashed the king and queen of trumps. He was disappointed with the 4-1 trump split, but he was still on for 13 tricks with a 3-2 split in spades. Louie led a low spade to dummy’s king and continued with the jack. East covered the jack with the queen, Louie played the ace, and West ruffed. West exited with his last trump and Louie could no longer take even 12 tricks. ”What horrid luck,” said Louie. ”4-1 splits in both majors! Give me a break.”

Lucky Larry also arrived in six hearts with the queen of diamonds lead. He won the diamond lead and, like Louie, cashed two top trumps. Larry led a low spade to dummy’s king and continued with the jack, covered by East. Larry wanted to make the best play for his contract in a team game, where the overtrick rarely matters, so he allowed the queen of spades to hold the trick. This paid big dividends when West showed out. East led the king of clubs to dummy’s ace. Larry crossed back to his hand with the king of diamonds and led a low spade, ruffing with dummy’s ace of hearts. A low heart back to his hand allowed Larry to draw the remaining trump, cash the ace of spades, and claim with all good spades. Well done!

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