Bridge

West selected the jack of hearts, covered by the king and ace, and East continued with the queen to defeat the slam, N-S -200.

East's double of the slam called for an unusual lead. Normally, this requests the lead of dummy's first bid suit but partner must deduce from his hand which suit is required. The conventional double excludes the lead of a trump and probably any unbid suit versus a suit contract. West had no trouble choosing a heart - dummy's first bid suit but South would not have been successful even if West had selected a spade or the jack of diamonds as an opening shot. There are only eleven tricks and no chance of a twelfth unless West foolishly discards two diamonds on the run of the clubs.

East was correct to double 6NT since it was quite possible that South would score twelve tricks in the absence of a heart lead. I suppose that the double could backfire when South held the king of hearts but a heart lead from East's perspective offered the best chance to defeat the slam. 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.