Mad Bridge Party

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“Never doubt, child,” the Queen of Hearts blustered, “that I’m the most powerful card in Wonderland. No ace or king dares take me.”
“Of course, your majesty,” Alice said politely.
“Think not?” the Queen sneered. “Deal and I’ll prove it.”

Dlr: East ♠ A
Vul: E-W ♥ A K 9 8 3
♦ 9 7 6 3
♣ K 9 5
♠Q 10 8 7 5 ♠ K J 9 6 4 3 2
♥ Q ♥ 10 6 5 2
♦ K J 10 ♦ Q 4
♣ 8 7 3 2 ♣ —
♠ —
♥ J 7 4
♦ A 8 5 2
♣ A Q J 10 6 4
East South West North
Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥
Pass 2♣ Pass 4♣
Pass 4♦ Pass 6♣
All Pass 6

Opening lead — ♥Q
So Alice dealt as East, and the Mad Hatter became declarer at 6♣. West, the Dormouse, led the queen of hearts, and the Hatter naturally took dummy’s ace.
“Off with his head,” the Queen of Hearts roared. “How dare he let me be captured?”

11 Tricks

The Hatter next led a trump, and when Alice showed out, declarer found to his dismay that the slam was unmakable. If he drew trumps, he would have only 11 tricks. If he tried to set up the hearts first, he would suffer a fatal ruff.
Alice had to admit that South would succeed easily if he let the ♥Q win. Whatever West led next, South would win six trump tricks and four hearts plus the two side aces.
A diamond lead — hard to find — always beats the slam.

Daily Question

You hold:
♠A
♥A K 9 8 3
♦A 7 3
♣K 9 5
You open 1♥, your partner responds 1♠, you bid 2♦ and he bids 2NT. What do you say?

ANSWER
This is close. You have an extra high-card point or two, but you lack a stopper in a suit you bid, and partner may have transportation problems in the play. Bid 3NT if vulnerable. You would bid 3NT at any vulnerability on a 14-point hand with more winners:
♠ A
♥K Q J 10 5
♦J 10 6 3
♣K 9 5