Bridge

PLAYING A strong Club system, South duly opened One Club (apparently 2 no-trumps would have shown a completely different hand type) and West overcalled with One Spade. North doubled, suggesting values but no good suit, and, although South now had more than one opportunity to suggest what would have been a rock-solid no-trump game, the final contract was Six Clubs.

West led his singleton trump against the slam and, after winning in hand, declarer cashed a second high trump to reveal the 3-1 break. He led !Q and this was covered by the king and ace and South came back to hand with !10. It was clear that any attempt to ruff two spades in dummy would lose to an over-ruff, so declarer drew a third round of trumps with dummy's king and cashed !J. Now he faced a problem - what should he discard? Eventually he threw a spade and followed by finessing 410 but West, who had been counting carefully, won and exited with a spade. Now, whatever South tried, there was still a diamond to be lost and the slam failed.

Any suggestions? Suppose that, instead of subjecting himself to an embarrassing premature discard, declarer does not cash !J when he has the opportunity but ruffs dummy's losing heart instead. Then he exits with 4Q or 410 (the queen is better, for West is hot favourite to hold 4K but may not have the jack as well) and West wins. As a result of declarer's play, West no longer has a safe exit and must lead either a spade or a diamond into South's tenace. Finally, with the extra trick in the bag, South cashes 4A and ruffs a spade on the table. And at this stage, depending on what West has chosen for his exit, South knows exactly what to throw away on the jack of hearts!

Love all; dealer South

North

43 2

!A J 5 3

#10 6 4

2K 7 5 3

West East

4K J 9 7 6 48 5

!K 9 2 !8 7 6 4

#K J 5 3 #9 8 7 2

24 29 8 6

South

4A Q 10 4

!Q 10

#A Q

2A Q J 10 2