This month’s column is a great example of good bidding and good card play, a combination that secured North/South’s 12-trick ♥ slam.
The bidding:
| N | E | S | W |
| 1C | Pass | 1H | Pass |
| 3D (Splinter) | Pass | 4D (Ace) | Pass |
| 4NT (Hearts) | Pass | 5S (2/Queen) | Pass |
| 5NT | Pass | 6D (King) | Pass |
| 6H | Pass | Pass | Pass |
North was looking for the ♣ King. When South showed the King of ♦ and no King of ♣, North signed off at six ♥. Opening lead: ♠ King
Cover the East/West hands and see if you can make the contract.
NORTH
♠ A
♥ K J10 6 3
♦ 6
♣ A J 10 7 4 2
WEST EAST
♠ K Q 7 3 2 ♠ J 10 9 8
♥ 2 ♥ 5 4
♦ 9 8 7 5 4 3 2 ♦ Q J 10
♣ VOID ♣ K Q 6 5
SOUTH
♠ 6 5 4
♥ A Q 9 8 7
♦ A K
♣ 9 8 3
The Play
1. The ♠ King is led, Ace from North, East Jack, and South the 4.
2. Declarer realizes that keeping the ♣ suit losers to one will bring home the slam.
3. Playing the Ace of ♣, dropping the King or Queen, or taking two ♣ finesses are both bright prospects.
4. Declarer spotted a 100 percent line. Did you?
5. Declarer led the ♥ 3 to the Ace.
6. The ♠ 5 to the ♥ Jack.
7. ♥ six to the Queen.
8. ♠ 6 to the ♥ King.
9. ♦ 6 to the Ace and King, thus eliminating
the side suits.
10. ♣ 9 was ducked to East’s King.
11. No return can prevent declarer from avoiding two ♣ losers. Any suit will give declarer sluff/ruff. A ♣ away from the Queen plays into the AJ tenace.
Slam bid and made. Well-engineered!
[tip of the day]
Q. Kenny, are splinters an absolute necessity?
A. Yes, splinters have become one of the most useful and powerful bids in bridge. Try to work hard to add the splinter bid to your arsenal.
[Do you have a good bridge tip? Email kennethmbland@yahoo.com.]
photo by Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton