Show V I II J f-J 1 rr BETTER BRIDGE V VI I v By C. C H H. H Goren I N Neither e i t the h e r vulnerable South deals I NORTH KT V 54 54 f I A K 3 WEST EAST 64 3 4 10 10 1064 6 4 A Q 95 SOUTH SOUTHA A A Q 10 i X V 64 4 A K Q 1 T ef T J 8 7 2 The bidding biddins South West Test cst North East 1 4 Pass 2 V Pass 3 J N NT T Pass 4 N NT T Pass 5 V Y V Pass 7 V y Pass Pass Pass I Opening lead Ten of diamonds I The bitter pill pilI of hard luck had to be swallowed by the players who held the North hand in a tournament not long a ago o. o The grand slam bid hid was surely above reproach yet with 13 tricks apparently apparently apparently ap ap- ap- ap in sight the contract went on the rocks due to the I unfortunate trump break I The bidding given in the diagram diagram dia dirt gram above was that employed by some of oC the players One player passed by-passed the obstacle of hard luck by a very well thought out bid When the opener responded responded responded re re- re- re to the forcing take out with three no trump North realized realized real real- that his partner must have values alues considerably in excess of those required for the opening bid In other words South could not possibly have less than ace- ace king of diamonds and queen ace of spades plus a value in clubs club'S which was probably the queen There was therefore nothing to tobe tobe tobe be gained my making an asking four no trump bid hid inasmuch as is the answer to the question was known in advance He decided to bid a grand slam but elected to bid it in hi no trump This would afford him two chances If hearts proved solid there would be no problem But if hearts fa failed led to drop he would have the added chance that partner might I. I produce enough in the other three suits to bring home 13 I tricks Against the no trump contract West Vest opened a spade It looked like clear sailing but declarer did not make the mistake of trying trying try try- ing to run the hearts fir first t. t H He e led ledone ledone one one high heart just dust to find out if if there were fi five e e in one hand I I When br both th followed he cashed I Ithe the ace and kin king of clubs If the queen dropped 13 tricks could be betaken betaken betaken taken without relying on the heart suit When the queen refused refused refused re re- re- re fused to fall the spades were I cashed and then the diamonds run North discarded two small hearts and the three of clubs As East was called upon to discard discard discard dis dis- I card on the last diamond he held the jack and two hearts and the queen of clubs m making kin it impossible impossible sible for him to survive If he heet let et go the club declarers declarer's jack ck would become high If he let go goa a heart dummy could run the remaining three tricks in that suit In the hope that his partner I held the jack of clubs lie hc let go gothe gothe gothe the queen but it was a lost cause |