American Team Wins Silver Medal.
Bridge Column for February 27, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both Sides vulnerable.  East deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 3 2              
                              H: A           
                              D: K 10 7 3    
                              C: Q J 9 4 3 2
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 8 7 6                         S: K Q 10 9 5 4 
            H: J 9 8 6 3 2                   H: 10 7       
            D: 8                             D: J 5               
            C: 10 6 5                        C: K 8 7       
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A J    
                              H: K Q 5 4    
                              D: A Q 9 6 4 2 
                              C: A        
          The Bidding://
                   EAST   SOUTH     WEST   NORTH                  
                    2S   Double     Pass    3S  
                   Pass    4D       Pass    5D  
                   Pass    5S       Pass    5NT 
                   Pass    7D       Pass    Pass
                   Pass
     Here is another diamond grand slam attributable to John
Kranyak of Bay Village.  This was played last month at the
International Junior Team Competition in Amsterdam, The
Netherlands.  The event was sponsored by Hero Beverage, a Dutch
Corporation.
     Kranyak was a member of the team sponsored by the American
Contract Bridge League (ACBL).  His partner was Joe Grue of
Minneapolis, MN, and their teammates were: Joel Woolridge of
Buffalo, NY, John Hurd of Clemson, SC, Kent Mignocci of Bronx,
NY, and Brad Campbell of Atlanta, GA. 
     In an early match against Denmark, East opened a weak two
spade bid and Grue doubled.  Kranyak bid three spades to show
game going values.  Grue bid his suit and Kranyak raised to game. 
Five spades was a cue bid which not only showed first round
control of the spade suit, but denied first round control of the
heart suit.
     Kranyak would have liked to make a heart cue bid but was
painfully aware that he would be forcing his partner to the seven
level.  Since a six diamond bid at this point would end the
auction, he bid five no trump.  In this type of auction, he was
telling his partner he had the ace of hearts and was asking him
to determine the final contract.  This bid is known as the
"unbiddable cue bid".  Grue, recognizing the situation, bid the
grand slam.
     The contract may have been difficult had diamonds broke
three-zero, but they did not and Grue trumped a spade and a heart
in dummy to score thirteen tricks.  At the other table, the Danes
stopped in five diamonds, making seven.
     The ACBL team finished second to the team from Austria,
winning the silver medal. 
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