Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell, Oct 6, 2006

The bidding

When North supported Hearts, South launched into what is called Key Card Blackwood. The response of five Hearts promised two of the five key cards available (the four Aces and the King of Trump). Then South found out about the Club King and went to the Grand Slam. This was a great auction, with both partners on the same page!

The play

Declarer proceeded to win the Diamond Ace, pull three rounds of trump, and then play on Spades. Since he had to trump the fourth Spade in dummy, he had nowhere for the third Club to go and so took the Club finesse for down one. “Gee, if Spades were 3–3 I would have made it, partner. It was just bad luck!”

In this game, as in life, you often make your own luck. The odds say that the outstanding Hearts will break 3–2 and the outstanding Spades will break 4–2. Knowing that, trump a Diamond at trick two. Play the Heart Ace, and a second Heart, overtaking in dummy. Lead the last Diamond, trumping with the last Heart in your hand. Then play a Club to the King and play the Heart nine from dummy, pulling the last trump. Discard the Club Jack from your hand on this trick. Now, play three rounds of Spades, and when the Jack does not fall, trump a Spade with dummy’s last trump. Then play a club to the Ace in your hand and cash the good Spade. Lucky? You bet!


Questions: gary@smabridge.com 

Lessons: 152-6351.