| Dlr: South | ♠ J6 | |
| Vul: E-W | ♥ K 7 6 | |
| ♦ K 10 7 5 3 | ||
| ♣ 10 9 6 4 | ||
| ♠ A K 8 5 3 2 | ||
| ♥ A Q J 4 | ||
| ♦ A | ||
| ♣ A 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 2♣ | |||
| Pass | 2♦ | Pass | 2♠ |
| Pass | 3♦ | Pass | 3♥ |
| Pass | 4♥ | Pass | 4NT |
| Pass | 5♦ | Pass | 6♥ |
| All Pass |
Playing a little computer bridge can bring a new problem to light. On this deal, the robot North showed some values with his second bid and tried South’s patience by raising hearts with only three-card support. Rather optimistically, you decided to enquire about key cards and bid a slam. West starts with the ♣K. How will you get to 12 tricks on this deal?
Solution
After winning the ♣A at trick one, declarer counted only nine top tricks and applied the aphorism, “When the contract is in doubt, look to see whether you can set up a side suit.” In this case, the only suit to be considered was spades. As a suit missing six cards is most likely to break 4-2, declarer planned to ruff two spades in dummy.
At trick two, declarer cashed the ♠A and ruffed a spade low. After returning to hand with the ♦A, declarer ruffed a second spade with dummy’s king of trumps, rather than a low card, which would have been overruffed, A club return would have defeated the contract.
In dummy, declarer cashed the ♦K and threw the ♣3 from hand. When all of that had passed off well, declarer drew three rounds of trumps with the ace, queen and jack. Now, East was helpless when declarer cashed the ♠K– he could do no better than ruff this and play a club. Declarer ruffed this with the ♥4 and his hand was now high, thanks to the two long spades. The full deal:
| Dlr: South | ♠ 6 | |
| Vul: E-W | ♥ K 7 6 | |
| ♦ K 10 7 5 3 | ||
| ♣ 10 9 6 4 | ||
| ♠ Q 10 9 7 | ♠ J 4 | |
| ♥ 9 3 | ♥ 10 8 5 2 | |
| ♦ J 6 2 | ♦ Q 9 8 4 | |
| ♣ K Q J 8 | ♣ 7 5 2 | |
| ♠ A K 8 5 3 2 | ||
| ♥ A Q J 4 | ||
| ♦ A | ||
| ♣ A 3 |