Kelley on Bridge

North

S--Q 8 3

H--J 10 8

D--K 9 7 2

C--J 9 2

West

S--J 9 6 5

H--4 2

D--Q 6 4

C--Q 10 7 6

East (D)

S--K 7 2

H--9 6

D--J 10 5 3

C--K 5 4 3

South

S--A 10 4

H--A K Q 7 5 3

D--A 8

C--A 8

E-W was vulnerable

The Bidding: East  South  West  North pass  2 hearts  pass  3 hearts pass  4 NT  pass  5 clubs pass  5 NT  pass  6 diamonds pass  6 hearts  allpass

West led the club seven

South had no right to expect his partner to lap down the hand that he did, including the queen and the kind which were critical in the attainment of the somewhat dubious contract.

Declarer took the club lead in his hand with the ace and proceeded to draw trump in two rounds. He next attacked the diamonds, cashing the ace and the king and ruffing a third in his hand. Declarer then went to the board with a trump trick and led back the last diamond which East covered with the jack. Here declarer made the key play and refused the trick, discarding the club from his hand upon which West discarded a spade.

Now, declarer knew that any chance for the contract depended upon East holding the king of spades, and only then, if he did lead back to his partner's signal, which seemed to be the surest chance to defeat the contract.

Therefore, when East led back a small spade, declarer played low in his hand, and took the trick with the queen on the board. The spade return drew East's king and last spade upon which declarer cashed his ace. South then played out his last two trump, and when West discarded the jack of spades, happily laid down the good spade for the contract and the small slam.

West led the club seven

South had no right to expect his partner to lap down the hand that he did, including the queen and the kind which were critical in the attainment of the somewhat dubious contract.

Declarer took the club lead in his hand with the ace and proceeded to draw trump in two rounds. He next attacked the diamonds, cashing the ace and the king and ruffing a third in his hand. Declarer then went to the board with a trump trick and led back the last diamond which East covered with the jack. Here declarer made the key play and refused the trick, discarding the club from his hand upon which West discarded a spade.

Now, declarer knew that any chance for the contract depended upon East holding the king of spades, and only then, if he did lead back to his partner's signal, which seemed to be the surest chance to defeat the contract.

Therefore, when East led back a small spade, declarer played low in his hand, and took the trick with the queen on the board. The spade return drew East's king and last spade upon which declarer cashed his ace. South then played out his last two trump, and when West discarded the jack of spades, happily laid down the good spade for the contract and the small slam.