A bidding nightmare.
Bridge Column for September 6, 2002, Harvey Bernstein
Both sides vulnerable.  East deals.
                              North
                              S: A 4 2            
                              H: A 7         
                              D: K Q 10 6    
                              C: 10 7 5 4 
            West                           East
            S: 6 5 3                       S: Void         
            H: Void                        H: K Q J 10 9 8 6 5 4
            D: 9 8 7 4 3 2                 D: Void                
            C: A 9 6 2                     C: K Q J 8     
                              South                         
                              S: K Q J 10 9 7 6                   
                              H: 3 2        
                              D: A J 5     
                              C: 3        
          The Bidding:  
                   East   South     West   North                  
                    6H     Pass     Pass   Double
                   Pass    6S       Pass    Pass
                   Pass
     Thanks to Al Freeman of Cleveland for this hand from one of
the sessions that he played at the American Bridge Association
(ABA) Summer National Bridge Tournament in Charlotte, NC earlier
this summer.
     These freak hands are a problem for everyone.  Freeman,
sitting East, decided to gamble on his partner having one of the
aces that he would need to make six hearts.  North's double was a
penalty double, and in fact, six hearts can be defeated one trick
with a club lead.
     South felt that he would rather take his chances in six
spades.  West led the ace of clubs and that was the only trick
the defense could manage.  The only lead that will defeat the
small slam is a club other than the ace.  When East wins this
trick he must shift to a heart for West to trump.
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.