BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, North deals

NORTH

xA 9 8 5

uA 9 4

vA K 7 3

w6 2

WEST EAST

xK J 7 6 2 xQ 10 4

uQ J 7 5 u10 6 3

v4 vJ 10 6 5 2

w10 9 3 wQ 8

SOUTH

x3

uK 8 2

vQ 9 8

wA K J 7 5 4

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1NT Pass 4w- Pass

4NT-- Pass 6w All pass

-Gerber

--Three aces

Opening lead: Six of x

Rubber bridge players, after the contract is made, often throw the rest of the hand in to start play on the next deal. Duplicate players never do that, as an overtrick can be very important. South showed good technique in the play of this slam. He won the opening spade lead with dummy’s ace, ruffed a spade, and cashed the ace of clubs. He then crossed to dummy with the ace of diamonds and led a club. When East’s queen appeared, 12 tricks were certain and the hunt was on for the overtrick.

Declarer captured the queen with the king and cashed the club jack, drawing all the trumps. The queen of diamonds was followed by a diamond to the king. Another spade was ruffed back to his hand, leaving this position:

NORTH

x9

uA 9

v7

wVoid

WEST EAST

xK xVoid

uQ J 7 u10 6 3

vVoid vJ

wVoid wVoid

SOUTH

xVoid

uK 8 2

vVoid

w5

South led the last club and West had to part with a heart to keep the king of spades. The nine of spades was no longer needed and was duly discarded. East had the same problem as his partner. He had to keep his diamond to prevent dummy’s seven from taking a trick, so he also shed a heart. Declarer took the last three tricks with the ace, king, and eight of hearts. Nicely played!

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