Bridge Column for September 4, 1994 
East-West vulnerable.  East deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: K 5 2           
                              H: K           
                              D: V o i d     
                              C: A K Q J 10 9 7 6 3
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 10 9 3                        S: A 6          
            H: 3                             H: A 10 9 8 7 6
            D: A 10 7 5 4 2                  D: K Q 9 8           
            C: 8 5 4                         C: 2           
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: Q J 8 7 4
                              H: Q J 5 4 2    
                              D: J 6 3         
                              C: V o i d       
                  EAST     SOUTH     WEST      NORTH              
                   1H       Pass     Pass       Dbl 
                   2D       2S        3D        4S  
                  Pass      Pass     Pass
     North picked up nine solid clubs and needed very little from
partner to produce a slam.  Unfortunately, while partner had a
nice hand, he was missing the aces necessary to go past game.
     The auction shown is only a possibility.  Some players
holding the North cards will simply bid five clubs at the first
opportunity.  What is interesting, however, is the different
results that were reported for the nine times that the hand was
played.  Top score went to the North-South pair who were doubled
in five clubs and made that contract for plus 550.  Four pairs
played in four spades and were plus 420.  One East-West pair
played in five hearts and was defeated three tricks for minus
300.  Three North-South pairs tried six clubs.  All were down one
trick, two were doubled, one was not.
     In spite of all of those clubs in the North hand, the best
available contract is a small slam in diamonds for East-West. 
Try as I might, I have not come up with a way to beat it.