Bridge

South’S 4NT was Roman Key-card Blackwook, the response showing either for aces or three aces and the trump king. 5NT asked North to name specific kings and 6C showed the king of clubs. How would you play 7H when West leads the ten of diamonds? Declarer won the dummy’s ace and tested trumps by cashing the ace and jack. When the 4-1 break was exposed, he knew that he would have to take a ruff in dummy while East still held a higher trump. Ruffing a diamond directely would fail when East held only two diamonds, as was in fact the case. Declarer could reduce this risk by playing three rounds of clubs, throwing a dimond from dummy. Since he held six diamonds between the hands and only five clubs, the odds were higher that three rounds of clubs would stand up. A diamond was thrown on the third club and declarer could now ruff the second round of diamonds. Grand slam made.

Answer

The odds are good that partner has a six-card spede suit, in which case 4S will be sound contract. Even if he holds only five spades, it may will be best to make spade trumps. You could make a waiting bid of 3D but if partner then bid 3NT you could hardly stand for that contract with no diamond stopper. I like best an immediate leap to the spade game. A rise to 3S would not be forcing in standard methods. Awards: 4S - 10, 3D - 7, 3NT -5, 3S -3. 

David Bird — Knight Features

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