Bridge Column for October 16, 1994 
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 6 4              
                              H: A K 9 8 4 2 
                              D: A           
                              C: 8 6 3 2 
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 9 8                           S: J 3          
            H: Q J 10 3                      H: 7          
            D: 8 6 5                         D: Q 10 9 4 3 2      
            C: Q 10 9 5                      C: A K J 4     
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A K Q 10 7 5 2
                              H: 6 5        
                              D: K J 7    
                              C: 7        
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   1S      Pass     2H      Pass
                   3S      Pass     4D      Pass
                   4NT     Pass     5H      Pass
                   6S      Pass     Pass    Pass
     South's three spade rebid was alerted and explained as
showing a solid suit.  North's four diamond call was a cue bid as
well as being encouraging with respect to slam possibilities. 
After a Blackwood sequence, South bid the small slam in spades.
     Despite the fact that there are only twenty-four high card
points between the two hands, this is a very good slam.  West
must specifically lead a spade at trick one to guarantee defeat. 
If a minor suit is led, declarer should be able to negotiate one
diamond ruff (all that is needed) and return to hand to draw
trump, losing only a club.  
     A heart lead requires declarer to work very carefully to
land his slam.  Look at what happens when the queen of hearts is
led.  Declarer could win the ace in dummy, unblock the ace of
diamonds, play a spade to hand, ruff a small diamond with the
last spade in dummy, and now try to find a safe way to return to
hand.  Unfortunately, there is none.  
     Alternatively, if declarer believes that the queen of hearts
is from the top of a sequence, he could win the ace of hearts,
draw trump and then lead a heart towards the king-nine.  If West
splits his jack-ten combination, declarer can win the king and
lead the nine, discarding his singleton club.  The ace of
diamonds is the entry to dummy and the eight of hearts becomes
the resting place for the seven of diamonds.  If West does not
split the jack-ten, declarer must put his judgement to the test
and finesse the nine of hearts.
     When this hand was actually played, West did not want to
give up too much information and so led the jack of hearts. 
Declarer recognized that he would have a problem returning to his
hand later in the play and led the two of clubs from North at
trick two.  East was up to the challenge, however, and played the
four.  West won the nine of clubs and led another heart for his
partner to ruff and defeat the contract.