Main
Article 7A02 by Richard Pavlicek
This deal is from the Swiss team event at the recent Fort Lauderdale Sectional. My son Rich was North and I was South, and we reached a good slam that was missed at the other table. The bidding made use of three effective slam gadgets: a splinter bid, key-card Blackwood, and a follow-up to ask for the queen of trumps.
6 
South
None Vul | A Q J 3 A K 8 7 2 3 A 10 3 | |
| 9 6 5 J 9 3 Q 8 6 5 4 8 2 |  | K Q 6 5 4 K 9 7 2 Q 9 6 5 |
| Lead: 5 | 10 8 7 4 2 10 A J 10 K J 7 4 |
| West Pass Pass Pass All Pass | North 1 4 5 5 NT | East Pass Pass Pass Pass | South 1 4 NT 5 6 |
Rich’s unusual jump to 4 showed a singleton or void in diamonds and four-card spade support. Despite my topless spade suit, I sensed the good fit and bid 4 NT (key-card Blackwood); Rich answered 5 showing zero or three key cards (obviously three). Still concerned about the weak trumps, I next bid 5 to ask for the spade queen; 5 NT confirmed this card and also showed the K in our methods, so we reached the slam. (Without the spade queen Rich would bid 5 and I would pass.)
West led the 5 to the king, ace; then a spade was led to the jack and king. The diamond return ruffed out the queen; then the A was cashed to reveal it would have been better (though illogical) to cash it first. Next came the A; heart ruff (with 10); spade to jack, then hearts were continued to establish the long heart. This provided 12 tricks without needing to guess clubs.
Top Main
© 1991 Richard Pavlicek