Finding the right path to slam.
Bridge Column for May 28, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 7 5 4            
                              H: Q 9 6 3     
                              D: A K 9       
                              C: J 6 5   
            WEST                             EAST
            S: A 10 9 2                      S: 8 6 3        
            H: 4                             H: 8 7       
            D: Q 8 3 2                       D: J 6 5 4           
            C: 10 9 8 7                      C: Q 4 3 2     
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: K Q J 
                              H: A K J 10 5 2
                              D: 10 7      
                              C: A K      
          The Bidding://
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   2C      Pass     2D      Pass
                   2H      Pass     3H      Pass
                   4C      Pass     4D      Pass
                   5C      Pass     5D      Pass
                   6H      Pass     Pass    Pass
     Today's hand was played at a rubber bridge game.  South has
an old-fashioned strong two heart opener, but the rules of the
game dictated "weak" two-bids.  Accordingly, South opened the
bidding with two clubs, the two bid reserved for a hand that
would otherwise qualify for a wide variety of game forcing
opening bids.
     North's two diamond bid was "waiting".  While he has enough
high card strength for a positive response, the only possible bid
he could make would be two no trump, which takes up too much
bidding space.  South's two heart bid reveals his suit and
North's three heart bid is a positive raise, establishing the
trump suit and leaving room for further exploration.
     Four clubs is a cue bid showing the ace of clubs.  Four
diamonds by North shows that ace.  This is the point where South
has a problem.  If he bids four no trump, the Blackwood
convention, North will tell him how many aces he has.  If the
answer is two, there will be no problem and South will be able to
ask for kings.  On the other hand, if North shows only one ace,
South will know for sure that he is missing the ace of spades and
there will be no way to determine if the potential diamond loser
is covered.  
       South found a neat way to get the information that he
needed.  He bid five clubs, showing the king of that suit.  South
decided to give up on the possibility of a grand slam to make
sure that he would have a good chance to make his small slam. 
North cooperated by showing the king of diamonds by bidding five
diamonds and South bid the small slam, ending the auction.
     West opened with the two of diamonds.  South won the ace,
drew trump and claimed twelve tricks.  Stop and think before you
blindly bid Blackwood or Gerber, asking for aces.  Often there
are better ways to get the information that you need.
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