Bidding the correct slam.
Bridge Column for November 26, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both sides vulnerable.  North deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A 10 7 5 3       
                              H: K J 2       
                              D: A Q 8 7     
                              C: 2       
            WEST                             EAST
            S: J 8 2                         S: 9 6 4        
            H: Q 10 9 8 6                    H: 7 4     
            D: Void                          D: J 10 3 2          
            C: Q 9 7 6 3                     C: 10 8 5 4    
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: K Q  
                              H: A 5 3      
                              D: K 9 6 5 4 
                              C: A K J    
          The Bidding://
                  NORTH    EAST    SOUTH    EAST                  
                   1S      Pass     2D      Pass
                   3D      Pass     4NT     Pass
                   5H      Pass     5NT     Pass
                   6D      Pass     7NT     Pass
                   Pass    Pass
     This is an exciting hand from the Buckeye State Sectional
Bridge Tournament held earlier this month in Solon.  This was
board 29 of the afternoon session on Saturday, November 11. 
South holds a beautiful twenty point hand and is probably
thinking about the opening bid when, what to his surprise,
partner opens the bidding with one spade.  
     The bidding shown was typical.  Most pairs got to either six
or seven diamonds, or six or seven no trump.  The pairs who only
bid the small slam got mediocre scores.  Those bidding the grand
slam had mixed results.  Seven diamonds cannot be made because of
the bad diamond break.  Note that if the East and West hands were
switched, the outstanding trumps would be picked up and the slam
would be made, but as the cards sat, it was not to be.
     The success of a seven no trump contract is dependant on the
opening lead or the skill of the declarer.  If West opens a heart
or a club, he presents declarer with an extra trick in whichever
suit he leads, and as it turns out, that becomes the 13th trick. 
On the lead of a spade, however, declarer has a number of
choices.  If he selects the heart finesse, he will be successful,
but the club finesse will fail.
     An expert declarer will delay taking any finesse and will
test spades and diamonds first.  He will win the opening spade
lead in the closed hand and unblock a second high spade.  A small
diamond to the ace will reveal the diamond position, but when the
ace of spades brings a spade from each defender, declarer will be
able to cash two more spades from the dummy, discarding diamonds
from his hand.  
     Declarer then cashes two more good diamonds and West will
have to make a total of five discards and will find himself able
to guard only one of his round suit queens.  He will probably
elect to guard the heart queen, since he has no idea where the
jack of clubs is and must hope that his partner holds that card.
     In either case, if declarer simply cashes the ace and king
of the suit in which West has made three discards, the queen will
come crashing down allowing the jack of that suit to become the
13th trick.  How did you decide to play this hand?   
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