NORTH's 3D was a transfer response; showing at least five hearts. South decided to show his excellent support by ‘breaking the transfer’. His rebid of 4H showed a maximum hand with a good heart fit and North now bid the slam via Roman Key-card Blackwood. How would you play 6H when West leads the jack of spades? It seemed that declarer would need a 3-3 diamond break, so that he could discard all three of dummy’s club losers. However, he spotted a small extra chance of success. Rather than drawing trumps immediately, he cashed his other spade winner and played the king, ace and queen of diamonds. East could guess that he would have no safe return if he ruffed this trick with the bare ace. He therefore discarded a club. Declarer ruffed a fourth round of diamonds, establishing a long card, and then played a trump. East won with the bare ace and decided to concede a ruff-and-discard, rather than lead away from the club king. Declarer discarded the four of clubs and ruffed in the dummy. After drawing trumps, he was able to claim twelve tricks. A heart or a club lead would have beaten the contract.
What will you say on the West cards?
Answer It would be poor bridge to pass the take-out double for penalties. In effect, you would then have to make a contract of 1H with a likely singleton trump in the dummy and a bad trump break against you. North’s trumps will be lying over you and he would often make seven tricks. A better idea is to respond 1NT. This suggests around 6-10 points and good stoppers in the enemy suit.
NORTH's 3D was a transfer response; showing at least five hearts. South decided to show his excellent support by ‘breaking the transfer’. His rebid of 4H showed a maximum hand with a good heart fit and North now bid the slam via Roman Key-card Blackwood. How would you play 6H when West leads the jack of spades? It seemed that declarer would need a 3-3 diamond break, so that he could discard all three of dummy’s club losers. However, he spotted a small extra chance of success. Rather than drawing trumps immediately, he cashed his other spade winner and played the king, ace and queen of diamonds. East could guess that he would have no safe return if he ruffed this trick with the bare ace. He therefore discarded a club. Declarer ruffed a fourth round of diamonds, establishing a long card, and then played a trump. East won with the bare ace and decided to concede a ruff-and-discard, rather than lead away from the club king. Declarer discarded the four of clubs and ruffed in the dummy. After drawing trumps, he was able to claim twelve tricks. A heart or a club lead would have beaten the contract.
Answer