Hand of the Week
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | |||
| 2♦(1) | 3♦ | 4♠ | Pass |
| Pass | 5♣ | Pass | 6♦ |
| All Pass |
(1) Promising at least 5-5 in the majors.
West leads the ♠K against your slam. What is your plan to make 12 tricks?
Solution
You expect to make five clubs, five trumps, the ♠A and a spade ruff. The only worry is a 4-0 trump break (West cannot have four diamonds). As you expect West to hold the ♥A and entries to your hand are few, a little care is needed when the full deal is:
After taking the ♠K with the ace, you should ruff a spade with the eight of trumps. Then, cashing the ♦A, you must continue with the ♦10. Presumably, East will cover this with the jack. You will take this with the ♦Q, cross back to dummy with a club and pick up East’s remaining trumps by leading the ♦5 and covering East’s card. Then, after drawing the last trump, you will have your 12 tricks.