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In the finals at the 2017 World Championships, North-South had a chance to gain by bidding a good grand slam.
| Dlr: North | ♠ J 10 9 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vul: N-S | ♥ K 9 8 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A J 10 7 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ — | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ — | ♠ 6 5 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♥ Q 7 6 | ♥ J 10 5 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ K Q 9 8 6 4 3 | ♦ 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♣ J 7 3 | ♣ A 9 8 6 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♠ A K Q 8 7 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ A 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ — | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ K Q 10 5 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Opening lead — ♣3
In the Open Teams, the bidding went the same unsuccessful way at both tables: South’s 5♦ conventionally asked how many non-diamond aces North held. When he had none, South signed off at 6♠. He won a diamond, two top hearts and 10 more tricks on a crossruff.
In the Women’s Teams, both North-Souths halted at 6♠, as did a U.S. pair in the Seniors event. Only Italy’s seniors got to seven.
Trump Lead
It was suggested that a trump lead would beat 7♠. (True, West didn’t have a trump; East asserted that a good partner would find one.) But with that lead, South could crossruff diamonds and clubs until dummy was left with K-9-8 of hearts and a diamond, and declarer had A-3 of hearts, the ♣K and a trump.
Then the lead of declarer’s last trump would effect a double squeeze. Dummy’s ♥9 would win the 13th trick.
Daily Question
You hold: ♠— ♥Q 7 6 ♦K Q 9 8 6 4 3 ♣J 7 3.
Neither side vulnerable. You deal and open 3♦, and your partner bids 3♥. What do you say?