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Bridge
 North’s
4C was a splinter bid, showing a sound game-raise in hearts with at
most one club. The opener’s 4D was a cue bid, showing a diamond
control and suggesting a slam in hearts. North’ 5C showed a void
club, rather than a singleton, and his 5NT asked South to bid the
grand if he held two of the three top trump honours. How would you
play 7H when West leads the king of clubs? The original declarer
ruffed the club lead, crossed to his hand with a trump and ruffed a
second club. He then drew trumps and prepared to claim the contract
with four trump tricks in hand, two ruffs, five spades and the
minor-suit aces. When it played on spades, however, the 5-0 break came
to light and the grand slam could no longer be made. What should he
have done differently? To offset the lack of a fifth spade trick,
declarer needed to take a third club ruff. It was easy enough. After
taking the second club ruff, he should have returned to a trump and
ruffed another club. He could then return to the ace of diamonds
(safer than a spade), draw the last trump and claim the balance.
Answer
The first point to note
is that the hand will play hopelessly in notrumps (unless partner’s
hearts are ready to run). How many tricks can you expect, playing in
hearts? If partner has a one loser heart suit, you will have nine easy
tricks and the spade finesse for a tenth. You are (just) worth a raise
to 4H.
AWARDS: 4H-10,
Pass-6, 3S-4, 3NT-3.
David Bird — Knight Features
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