BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable, West deals

NORTH

xVoid

uA J 7 5 4

vA Q 10 8 5 4

wA J

WEST EAST

xA J 10 6 4 xK Q 2

u6 3 uQ 9 8

vK J v9

wK 8 6 2 w10 9 7 5 4 3

SOUTH

x9 8 7 5 3

uK 10 2

v7 6 3 2

wQ

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1x 2x- 3x 4u

Pass 4x Dbl Pass

Pass Redbl Pass 5w

Pass 6u All pass

-Hearts and a minor

Opening lead: Ace of x

South’s decision to bid four hearts would not please everyone. No doubt expecting a bit more from his partner, North made a slam try. North’s redouble confirmed first round spade control and South made another aggressive bid when he co-operated by showing his club control. North might have made a grand slam try at this point, but he settled for six hearts. Perhaps he’d played with this partner before.

South ruffed the opening spade lead in dummy, then cashed the ace of clubs and ruffed a club. He now made the excellent play of leading the 10 of hearts and running it. East won with his queen and led the king of spades. South’s far-sighted play in trumps allowed him to ruff in dummy and cross back to his hand with the king of hearts.

The diamond finesse was surely onside for the opening bid, so South led a diamond to the queen and cashed the ace of hearts, drawing the last trump. He could now cash the ace of diamonds and claim with a board full of good diamonds.

”Partner, if you had made a grand slam try, I would have been forced to sign off at six,” said South. ”I didn’t have anything else to bid.”

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