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West rued his choice of lead on this slam deal – either a Spade or a Diamond lead would have defeated the slam. Not so a Club…
East-West vulnerable.
| W | N | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♥ | |||
| Pass | 5♥ | Pass | 6♥ |
5♥: the deal was played at London’s Portland Club, where no conventions are allowed. Playing the full gamut of recommended slam-bidding tools, I’d suggest, 1♥–4♣ (Splinter, short Clubs and a good Heart raise) – 4NT (Roman Key card Blackwood) – 5♠ (two Aces and the Queen of Hearts, North pretending holding a fifth Heart) – 6♥. But I doubt West would have led a Club now… especially if East made a lead-directing double of 5♠.
Declarer won the Jack of Clubs lead in dummy. The simplest line appeared to be to lead a Diamond towards the King. If West held the Ace, he could play it, but dummy’s promoted King would provide a discard for the losing Spade. If the King of Diamonds was beaten by East’s Ace, there was always the Spade finesse to fall back on.
Declarer reflected that West might have led the Ace of Diamonds if he held the card. Thinking East would be more likely to hold the Ace, declarer crossed to a trump and played out the King-Queen of Clubs, discarding two Diamonds from dummy. He ruffed his fourth Club (to eliminate the suit) then led dummy’s now bare King of Diamonds. East won the Ace but was endplayed. A second Diamond would enable declarer to discard a Spade from hand and ruff in dummy; a Spade would run to dummy’s Ace-Queen. Slam made.
Both opponents are your friend
Plan the play in 6 Clubs on the best lead for the defense of a Heart.
East-West vulnerable.
| W | N | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♦ | Pass | 2♣ | |
| Pass | 4♠(1) | Pass | 6♣(2) |
(2) Great Club quality and the Ace of Spades (…thinks the optimist; naturally the pessimist looks at the lousy red suits and signs off)..
Winning the Ace of Hearts, declarer drew trumps in two rounds (good) then led dummy’s Ace of Diamonds. West discarding was a blow, and it appeared declarer would have to concede the Queen of Diamonds, at which point the defence would cash a Heart. Declarer found the solution.
First, Spades had to be eliminated; and declarer had to risk a finesse in order to discard a Heart from dummy. He led to the Queen of Spades (phew!), cashed the Ace discarding a Heart and ruffed a Spade (eliminating Spades). At trick eight, declarer exited with a second Heart (eliminating Hearts).
It did not matter which opponent won the Heart. If West won, he would have to lead a major, enabling declarer to ruff with dummy’s last Club and discard a Diamond from hand. If East won, he could either lead a Heart (same ruff-and-discard), or a Diamond round to dummy’s King-Jack. Slam made via a classic Elimination and Throw-in.
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