West led the ace of clubs and the dummy was exposed. Declarer had two thoughts: 1. This is a great contract. 2. Wait a second, how many clubs does West have for the pre-emptive three club bid?
Declarer called for the three from the dummy. East played the six and the king was played from the South hand. This play gave West a reason to take a moment and consider the continuation. Declarer knows that with any switch he will have a very reasonable chance of bringing home a nice score. This thought is short lived as West tables the two of clubs. The eight is played from the dummy and East discards the two of hearts. Declarer wins the queen and tries to remain calm in light of the great good fortune he has fallen into. Not only did he win the queen of clubs, he has determined that all three outstanding trumps are in the West hand.
After a moment to consider the position, declarer leads the king of spades. West plays the three of clubs and the slam falls apart. The declarer concedes down one and asks East why she didn't trump the club play at trick two.
East responds that she was afraid that West had started with eight clubs and that the king (played at trick one by declarer) was an honest singleton. If she trumped, declarer would trump higher and her queen would then fall doubleton.
East should trust her partner, who has a full count on the club suit. If West knew that both East and South were void in clubs, it would be proper to switch. Knowing, however, that there is still a club in one of those hands, it is correct to continue clubs so that partner can trump if she is void.
On the other hand, the Declarer needs to consider that all that glitters is not gold. There is no reason to make a play that is "all or nothing". Lead a small spade at trick three and see what West follows with. If West has a spade it would be reasonable to think that East was void and to then finesse the ten. When West shows out, Declarer will be able to go up with the ace and finesse the queen on the way back.
The hand was played thirteen times. The slam was bid five times, making twice and going down three times. The other eight pairs played in four spades making five or six.
Congratulations to the following local players who have achieved new levels of success in their bridge careers.
Kathleen Sulgrove of Twinsburg has accumulated 5,000 master points and is now a diamond life master.
James Reeve of North Royalton and Gladys Martin of Hudson have accumulated 2,500 master points and are now gold life masters.
Roselyn Sukenik of Cleveland has passed the 1,000 master point level and is a silver life master.
Geraldean Jones of Cleveland has passed the 500 master point level and is a bronze life master.
James Novak of Solon and Carol Wise of Chagrin Falls have
satisfied all of the requirements and are now life masters.
----
Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb19@adelphia.net