Bridge - The Scotsman 10/08/2012

Friday’s puzzle...

Received wisdom suggests you should bid a Grand Slam only when you can count 13 tricks. This is particularly true at Pairs, where many may miss the Small Slam, and a failing Grand scores zero points. Imagine North’s feelings on this board from a club pairs.

West’s 2D response to the strong 2C opener purported to show some values, and East expected a control or two. When partner gave preference to diamonds he bid the Grand Slam, played by West because of the artificial initial response. North led the king of hearts, and declarer pondered. She cashed two top diamonds, then the ace of spades. She crossed to the queen of clubs and advanced the queen of spades. North covered confidently. West would presumably try to return to hand with a club ruff to discard a heart on the jack of spades, but North could overruff and the Grand would fail. His hopes were dashed when West ruffed the second club, took her discard, and claimed her slam.

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West had taken inspired views in both the auction and the play. Most would go with the odds, cashing two diamonds, then three clubs to discard two hearts from hand, ruff a heart and claim. The 4-3 club break, combined with the chance a hand with only two clubs might also have two diamonds, is better odds than the 50 per cent ruffing finesse. North cracked when he realised a club lead beats the Grand for sure by prematurely removing an entry from the West hand.

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