BRIDGE

The auction for today’s deal illustrates some examples of modern expert bidding. North’s three-diamond bid showed spades and at least invitational values. A bid of three spades, instead, would have been competitivewith no game interest.

South’s pass of five clubs showed a suitable hand should North want to compete to the five level. North’s five-diamond bid was a slam try promising a control in the diamond suit. South aggressively bid the slam.

South won the ace of clubs perforce at trick one, cashed the ace of spades, and led a spade to dummy’s king. West was now known to have, at most, a doubleton heart. Should that holding be jack-10 doubleton, jack-eight doubleton, or 10-eight doubleton, there would be a fourth trick available in hearts. The alternative for a twelfth trick, a diamond to the queen, was almost certain to lose, from the auction.

South cashed dummy’s ace of hearts, hoping to see one of the key cards from West. No luck there, so South ruffed dummy’s last club, then cashed the king and queen of hearts and ruffed the last heart. South led a diamond from dummy, intending to play his nine and force West to win and lead away from his king or give up a ruff-sluff. East rosewith his 10, whichwould have saved the day if West had the nine, but declarer coveredwith the queen and had the same end play against West. Six spades made, and beautifully played!