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The “slow” or the “fast” lane?

A night of fairly routine games and part-scores was brought to life at some tables by a deal where no pair could bid the better of the available slams but where there was much interest in the less appealing one which was attempted at three tables.

The bidding had interest too. What is your next choice as North after the following auction holding:

 A93

 JT7643

 Q4

A8

West                     North                    East                        South

                                                                2¹                        x ²

2³                                     x                           2                         3

Pass                       3                          Pass                       4

Pass                       ?

¹  Multi 2¨

²  16+ but not a strong no trump

³ pass or correct

Presumably partner has at least 10 cards in the minors. With a useful looking honour in both minors, I cue bid 4 rather than rebid hearts, possibly to be left playing in a none - too wonderful contract. When partner rebid his clubs, I probably stretched one too far by raising to the club slam. The fate of this contract seemed to rest in the opening lead.

 

At one table, a trump was led and declarer was able to win and draw trumps before playing A then Q. With the king doubleton and the A still in dummy, declarer was home.

At the other two tables, the opening lead was a diamond. All was not straightforward. A duck from dummy (singleton kings do happen!) and the jack won. Two diamond ruffs would secure the contract though this may be less likely when the K fell under the ace. The unsuccessful line was to effectively play West for the 10 and ruff low. The successful line was to ruff a diamond with the A. While the heart finesse could work, with East holding the K and probably at least two of the spade honours, the chances are reduced.

Play A and ruff a spade (since if you gave up a heart now, East may be able to over-ruff dummy… but anyway, trumps can no longer be drawn before enjoying the hearts. West only has to switch to a spade when in with K) and run the trumps. Thus after three rounds of diamonds, two rounds of spades and five rounds of trumps, these cards would remain:

                                                                North

                                                                 -

                                                                 JT7

                                                                 -

                                                                -

                                West                                                     East (Irrelevant)

                                 -

                                 K8

                                 9

                                -

                                                                South

                                                                 -

                                                                 AQ

                                                                 6

                                                                -

West would not enjoy a diamond exit. What would happen had West thrown the 8 to keep a spade? There’s a thought. Actually, declarer knowing East had six spades (and therefore West three), would have no choice other than cashing the A.

The same scenario occurs if at trick one, West led a spade. Declarer has to take the diamond finesse at trick two and to succeed, proceed in similar fashion.

It is much simpler in 6. On the likely spade lead, declarer can take a losing trump finesse in comfort. Indeed, it would much simpler for declarer if the finesse did lose. Imagine either defender having Kxx. The thought of that (slam could still be made but there are difficulties after a spade lead) would make many opt for "slow lane" safety in 4.

Maybe that was the bid you made in the sequence given above. However, life, “in the fast lane”, does get interesting and occasionally successful! 

Richard Solomon

 

 

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