An unknown person said, "A single fact can spoil a good argument."
Not having a single card — a singleton — in a suit can spoil a good slam. This week, we have been watching responder announce at least game-forcing values with four-card or better support for opener's suit and at most a singleton in his bid suit. But the opener can make a splinter too — as in this deal.
After South responded one heart, North had the values for a raise to four hearts. (He had 18 total points: 16 in high cards and two for the singleton club. And he had only five losers: one spade, one heart, two diamonds and one club.) But North, instead of bidding an uninformative four hearts, showed his single club with his double jump-shift into that suit. (Yes, he could have had a club void, but a singleton is seven times more likely than a void.) Then South, who now knew he could ruff his club losers on the board, control-bid (cue-bid) his club ace. Finally North jumped to six hearts.
West led the diamond six. How should South have planned the play?
If West could have done, he probably would have led a trump — but he had a good excuse for not doing so.
Declarer saw that the deal was set up for a crossruff. But before commencing a crossruff, he knew that he had to cash his side-suit winners first. Therefore, after winning with dummy's diamond ace, South took dummy's two top spades and his club ace. Then he merrily crossruffed to 12 tricks.
Not having a single card — a singleton — in a suit can spoil a good slam. This week, we have been watching responder announce at least game-forcing values with four-card or better support for opener's suit and at most a singleton in his bid suit. But the opener can make a splinter too — as in this deal.
After South responded one heart, North had the values for a raise to four hearts. (He had 18 total points: 16 in high cards and two for the singleton club. And he had only five losers: one spade, one heart, two diamonds and one club.) But North, instead of bidding an uninformative four hearts, showed his single club with his double jump-shift into that suit. (Yes, he could have had a club void, but a singleton is seven times more likely than a void.) Then South, who now knew he could ruff his club losers on the board, control-bid (cue-bid) his club ace. Finally North jumped to six hearts.
West led the diamond six. How should South have planned the play?
If West could have done, he probably would have led a trump — but he had a good excuse for not doing so.
Declarer saw that the deal was set up for a crossruff. But before commencing a crossruff, he knew that he had to cash his side-suit winners first. Therefore, after winning with dummy's diamond ace, South took dummy's two top spades and his club ace. Then he merrily crossruffed to 12 tricks.