Medicine Hat News

NEW CANADIAN BRIDGE

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West continued with a diamond for the jack and king. South led a spade to the king, unblocked the club ace and drew the last trump with the queen of spades. He cashed the king of clubs, discarding a heart from the table, and ruffed a diamond.

A heart to the ace was followed by the jack that was successful­ly passed when West declined to cover, N-S +1430. West's opening lead had allowed the slam to come home by presenting declarer with a diamond trick. The auction disclosed that South held the king of diamonds since he had advanced to slam. Declarer concluded that West was a favorite to own the heart queen since he had selected the diamond ace as an opening shot. West should begin with a club where South will be hard pressed to score twelve tricks.

South's leap to three spades revealed a maximum with four-card spade support and North investigat­ed slam prospects by cuebidding the ace of clubs. South was more than happy to accept by leaping to six spades.

North should begin with Stayman, in my view, which would culminate in a heart contract but there are only eleven tricks with hearts breaking 4-1.

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.

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