GOOD CARD READING

South in today’s deal was multiple world champion and American expert, Jill Meyers, from California. The actual auction is not known to us, just the play, but the given auction is reasonable.

Had North wanted to ask for aces, he would have started with a Texas transfer of four diamonds and then bid four no-trump over partner’s four heart bid. That’s a little sophisticated, but it is standard for today’s experts, and Jill Meyers is certainly an expert.

Other declarers facing the same lead rose with dummy’s queen of spades at trick one. East won with the ace and returned a spade, leaving declarer with no winning line. Meyers did better by

ducking the spade lead in dummy and winning in hand with her king. Meyers cashed four rounds of diamonds, discarding a heart and a spade from dummy. The king, queen, and ace of clubs were next, hoping for a 3-3 split.

The clubs did not split favorably, but East, who had to keep all four hearts, discarded the seven of spades on the fourth diamond and the jack of spades on the third club. This painted a roadmap for a player of Meyer’s ability. She cashed the king of hearts and led a spade, shedding the last club from dummy. East won with the ace but was forced to lead a heart into dummy’s ace-queen-10 and Meyers landed her slam.

Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to With Tannah Hirsch and Bob Jones Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail tcaeditors@tribune.com.