Over one no-trump a singleton may help

Three people provide more quotes for this column than any others: Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde and today’s contributor, A.N. Onymous: “A single fact can spoil a good argument.”

At the bridge table, the fact of a single-ton can make the difference between reaching a low-count slam and missing it. Look at the North hand in the diagram. South opens one notrump. How should North plan the auction?

With only 11 high-card points, perhaps your first thought is that game is the limit. However, there is a good argument that if the singleton diamond is worthwhile, there could be a slam. North should transfer with two hearts, then jump to four diamonds. (Since a three-diamond rebid would be natural and game-forcing, four diamonds can be used as a splinter bid.)

South’s trumps are not great, but the rest of his hand is slam suitable. He could make a four-heart control-bid or use Roman Key Card Blackwood so that he can find out in particular about North’s spade honors.

How should South play in six spades after West leads the diamond queen?

Declarer can afford to lose only one major-suit trick. But he has two ways to play the trump suit. If he can afford one loser, he should start with the ace. But if he cannot afford a loser, he should finesse the queen. How does he know which way to turn?

South should take the heart finesse first. Here, it loses, so he finesses the spade queen and gets home ... unless West is very clever and ducks his heart king. Then declarer might go down. If he does, he should congratulate West on his excellent defense ... through gritted teeth, to be sure!