Saturday morning July 5, 2008
Board 9
North Deals E-W Vul | ♠ 8 5 3 ♥ A 9 2 ♦ A K J 10 8 5 ♣ A | ||||||||||
♠ 9 4 2
♥ J 6 4 ♦ 7 6 ♣ Q J 10 8 4 |
| ♠ K 7
♥ K Q 7 3 ♦ Q 4 ♣ 9 6 5 3 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ A Q J 10 6 ♥ 10 8 5 ♦ 9 3 2 ♣ K 7 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♦ | 2 ♣ | 2 ♠ | |
| Pass | 3 ♦ | Pass | 3 NT |
| Pass | 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 ♥ |
| Pass | 6 ♦ | All pass |
| 6 ♦ by North |
| Made 7 — +940 |
Lead: king of hearts
Getting there was the problem, especially for a South who was less enthused than partner; and with good reason. Most slams aren't bid with a finesse to make it in mind. Once the heart lead is captured by declarer a couple of good things need to happen; first the trump queen needs to fall, which it does. Second, the spade king needs to be with East, which it is. This is a nice 26-point slam that comes home.
Saturday morning July 5, 2008
Board 13
North Deals Both Vul | ♠ Q 2 ♥ Q 9 4 2 ♦ 9 8 ♣ A 10 8 7 4 | ||||||||||
♠ A K 8 7 6 4
♥ A ♦ K 10 2 ♣ K 6 3 |
| ♠ J 10 5
♥ J 8 6 ♦ A Q J 6 4 3 ♣ 9 | |||||||||
| ♠ 9 3 ♥ K 10 7 5 3 ♦ 7 5 ♣ Q J 5 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 2 ♦ | Pass | |
| 2 ♠ | Pass | 3 ♠ | Pass |
| 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♦ | Pass |
| 6 ♠ | All pass |
| 6 ♠ by West |
| Made 6 — +1430 |
Lead: ace of clubs
Any lead but the ace of clubs allows declarer to take all 13 tricks. The second lead most likely is a heart to the ace. With nine trumps the proper play is for the drop of the queen, which it does. Declarer then claims with more tricks than he needs. The problem is getting to slam. With his two kings, West needs to be the aggressor. If partner has a diamond suit in addition to three trumps, then any losers could be thrown on the good diamonds; which was the case.
Saturday morning July 5, 2008
Board 21
North Deals N-S Vul | ♠ 9 5 4 ♥ 9 7 4 2 ♦ Q 9 7 ♣ 6 4 2 | ||||||||||
♠ Q J 8 7
♥ K J 5 ♦ A 8 ♣ K J 9 3 |
| ♠ A
♥ A 8 6 3 ♦ K 3 2 ♣ A Q 10 7 5 | |||||||||
| ♠ K 10 6 3 2 ♥ Q 10 ♦ J 10 6 5 4 ♣ 8 |
| West | North | East | South |
| James Rabb | Pete Partin | ||
| Pass | 1 ♣ | Pass | |
| 1 ♠ | Pass | 2 NT | Pass |
| 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 NT | Pass |
| 6 NT | All pass |
| 6 NT by East |
| Made 6 — +990 |
Lead: jack of diamonds
Declarer wins the diamond in hand and finesses the jack of hearts. Back to hand with the ace of spades and over to the king of hearts, which is followed by the queen of spades, establishing the jack as the 12th tricks. Bridge is so much easier with infinite transportation!
Board 25
North Deals E-W Vul | ♠ — ♥ K J 8 ♦ A K 10 8 6 5 4 2 ♣ J 5 | ||||||||||
♠ Q 9 6 4
♥ 6 4 2 ♦ 9 7 ♣ A 7 4 2 |
| ♠ A 10 8 2
♥ 9 3 ♦ 3 ♣ K 10 9 8 6 3 | |||||||||
| ♠ K J 7 5 3 ♥ A Q 10 7 5 ♦ Q J ♣ Q |
| West | North | East | South |
| 4 ♦ | Pass | 4 ♥ | |
| Pass | 5 ♦ | Pass | 6 ♦ |
| All pass |
| 6 ♦ by North |
| Made 6 — +920 |
Lead: ace of spades
East sees the board come down and is disheartened; declarer trumps the ace, draws trumps and clears the hearts, making seven. Nobody got there on this day. It's a tough slam to bid, declarer figuring that South's ace is in hearts. Does partner have the king of clubs? There's no way to ask. Sometimes you have to jump into the water without knowing how deep it is.