Bridge Andrew Robson

The trick tally for declarer generally disappoints on misfitting deals, and also on deals where trumps split poorly. Would you believe, therefore, that South managed to make 6 ♦ on this month’s deal?

(1) Fourth Suit Forcing – asking for more information. South holding diamonds is a coincidence. (2) Might pass, but South is hoping partner is 5 ♠ 1 ♥ 3 ♦ 4 ♣ or the like. His 4 ♦ is a natural slam try.

West led ♥ Q and declarer won ♥ K. He was a tad disappointed with his dummy. A 3 ♣ ‘reverse’ normally indicates more than 12 points and he was also hoping for a third diamond. Nil desperandum.

At trick two, declarer led ♣ 3 to ♣ A and ruffed ♣ 5 with ♦ 2. He cashed ♥ A and ruffed ♥ 3 with ♦ 4. He followed by ruffing ♣ 7 with ♦ 3, cashing ♠ A, crossing to ♠ K and ruffing ♠ 3 with ♦ 6. He ruffed ♥ 6 with ♦ A (overruffing West’s ♦ 7) then led ♣ 10. East followed with ♣ K and he discarded ♥ 7. West’s last three cards were ♦ Q 10 9; he was forced to trump his partner’s winning ♣ K and lead from ♦ Q 10 into declarer’s ♦ K J. Declarer had actually made his slam – on a trump endplay – a seemingly impossible task looking at all four hands.

This spectacular result was made to look even better as ostensibly the more sensible contract of 3NT failed in the other room. ANDREW ROBSON