All the Facts

Dealer: South
Neither side vulnerable

North

A 5

K 7

K J 10 6

A 7 6 4 2

West

10 9 8 2

Q 10 4 2

7 5 3

Q 8

East

J 3

A 9 8 6 5

4 2

J 10 9 3

South

K Q 7 6 4

J 3

A Q 9 8

K 5

South	West	North	East
1�	Pass	2�	Pass
2�	Pass	4�	Pass
5�	Pass	6�	All Pass

Opening Lead:� 3

“Did you know that Santa Claus has a family?” my friend the English professor asked in the club lounge.”His elves are subordinate Clauses,” I replied hesitantly.

“He has cousins,” the prof said with a twinkle. “They’re relative Clauses. And his children are dependent Clauses.”

Today’s declarer must have thought his slam was dependent on a 3-3 spade break or on finding West with the ace of hearts. After West found a safe trump lead, declarer drew trumps and took the three top spades. When East discarded, South ruffed a spade in dummy, led a club to his king and took his good spade. But then he had to try a heart to the king, and down he went.

POOR PLAY
Relatively speaking, South’s play was poor; he depended on the wrong side suit. After he wins the first trump, he must take the K-A of clubs, ruff a club, go to the ace of spades and ruff a club.South can then draw trumps and cash the good club and the K-Q of spades. He loses one heart at the end but makes the slam.

DAILY QUESTION�

You hold:
K Q 7 6 4
J 3
A Q 9 8
K 5
. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two clubs and you try two diamonds. Partner then bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER�
Partner’s bidding has not been encouraging, and his spade “support” may be only a tolerance. If he held a hand such as A J 5, A Q 7 6 5, 3, Q 6 4 2, he would have raised your one-spade response to two spades. He may hold A 5, Q 10 6 4 2, 5 4, A Q J 4. Bid 3NT. Reject any thoughts of slam.