Playing a difficult slam.
Bridge Column for May 31, 2002, Harvey Bernstein
Neither side vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: Q 6 5            
                              H: 4           
                              D: A 7 6 5 
                              C: K Q 10 9 2
            West                             East
            S: 10 7 3                        S: 8 2          
            H: Q J 10 9 3 2                  H: K 8 6      
            D: 10 9                          D: K Q J 3           
            C: 5 4                           C: J 8 7 6     
                              South                         
                              S: A K J 9 4 
                              H: A 7 5      
                              D: 8 4 2   
                              C: A 3      
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   1S      Pass      2C     Pass
                   2NT     Pass      4S     Pass
                   5C      Pass      5D    Double
                   6S      Pass     Pass    Pass
     This hand was played at a local duplicate game.  The bidding
is fairly easy to understand.  South's five club call is a cue-
bid showing first round control of that suit and showing slam
interest.  North cooperates by bidding five diamonds, showing
first round control of that suit.
     East's double of five diamonds is "lead directing".  Partner
may have a problem selecting an opening lead and East is saying
that a diamond lead will be productive, at least from his
viewpoint.
     Many players, holding the South cards, would have a tendency
to shy away from slam after the lead directing double.  South is
looking at three small diamonds and there is little to suggest
that a slam can be made after a diamond lead.  When I observed
this hand, South decided to bud the slam in spite of the
anticipated diamond lead.
     West led the ten of diamonds and South called for the ace. 
A spade was played to the ace and a second round of trump was
drawn with the king.  The ace of clubs was followed by the three
of clubs to the king.  The queen of clubs provided a diamond
discard, but West trumped this trick with the ten of spades and
led a diamond to East's jack.  
     East continued with the king of diamonds which South
trumped.  The ace of hearts was played, followed by a small
heart, trumped in the dummy.  Declarer called for the ten of
clubs which was covered by the jack and trumped in hand.  With no
entry back to the good nine of clubs, declarer had to concede a
diamond loser for down two.
     At first glance, I thought that the diamond lead had been
responsible for the defeat of this contract, because it removes
what appears to be a vital entry from the North hand.  Looking
further, it appears that the contract should always be made. 
Declarer should win the ace of diamonds and then play the
singleton heart to the ace and then trump a heart in dummy.  
     A club to the ace provides the entry to allow declarer to
trump another heart.  North's last spade is led and overtaken by
the closed hand.  Two more top spades removes the outstanding
trump and the king and queen of clubs become the slam fulfilling
tricks.  When the jack of clubs doesn't fall, declarer must
concede one trick to the opposition.  In all, declarer will win
the ace of hearts, the ace of diamonds, three top clubs, and
seven spades, five in hand and two more from the dummy, trumping
hearts.
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.