NEW CANADIAN BRIDGE

Monday, September 28, 2020

Pass Pass 3♣ 4♦* Pass Pass 3♥ 6♥

All Pass

* cue bid

Opening Lead: ♦10

South put up dummy's ace of diamonds and played off the top hearts without success and the slam drifted down one. West had found the only lead to jeopardize the slam. South had concluded that West's opening lead was a singleton where his demise would be imminent if he finessed at trick one.

Suppose that West begins with a black suit. South is still likely to go wrong in the trump suit but he will continue with a diamond to the jack. The ace of diamonds fails to drop the king but declarer follows with three top spades and will be able to discard a diamond on the ten of spades for twelve tricks.

North intended four diamonds as a cue bid in search of a heart slam and South clearly agreed on this meaning.

What would North rebid holding a hand with six diamonds and four spades with slam interest?

A improved sequence would be to rebid three spades which could not be natural but a slam try in hearts. South would cue bid four clubs and North would reciprocate with four diamonds. South would then leap to a viable heart slam.

Author: Dave Willis - visit his website at www.insidebridge.ca Questions on bridge can be sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The New Canadian Bridge c/o Torstar Syndication Services, One Yonge St., Toronto, M5E 1E6.