Malcolm Forbes said, "If you don't know what to do with many of the papers piled on your desk, stick a dozen colleagues' initials on 'em, and pass them along. When in doubt, route."
In this deal, you have to find a dozen tricks to make your contract of six no-trump. What would be your doubt-free route after West leads the diamond jack?
The auction began with a strong no-trump and Stayman, North hoping to find a 4-4 spade fit. But when you rebid two hearts, North continued with three clubs. This showed four spades, five or more clubs, and sufficient points for at least game (and is usually done when North is thinking about a slam; with a weaker hand, he would rebid three no-trump).
You, with no interest in either black suit, bid three no-trump, and North jumped to the small slam.
West, knowing about the spade length on the board, led from his diamond sequence.
You have 10 top tricks: three spades, three hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. So, even a 3-3 spade break will not get you home. Instead, you should play on clubs. If you can collect four tricks there, you will be home.
Take the first trick on the board and play a low club toward your jack. Here, whatever East does, you get four club tricks and 12 in all.
If, though, your club jack loses to the potential queen in West's hand, you will be all right if the clubs are splitting 3-3. Or, if clubs prove to be 4-2, you find spades 3-3 and can execute a squeeze.
In this deal, you have to find a dozen tricks to make your contract of six no-trump. What would be your doubt-free route after West leads the diamond jack?
The auction began with a strong no-trump and Stayman, North hoping to find a 4-4 spade fit. But when you rebid two hearts, North continued with three clubs. This showed four spades, five or more clubs, and sufficient points for at least game (and is usually done when North is thinking about a slam; with a weaker hand, he would rebid three no-trump).
You, with no interest in either black suit, bid three no-trump, and North jumped to the small slam.
West, knowing about the spade length on the board, led from his diamond sequence.
You have 10 top tricks: three spades, three hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. So, even a 3-3 spade break will not get you home. Instead, you should play on clubs. If you can collect four tricks there, you will be home.
Take the first trick on the board and play a low club toward your jack. Here, whatever East does, you get four club tricks and 12 in all.
If, though, your club jack loses to the potential queen in West's hand, you will be all right if the clubs are splitting 3-3. Or, if clubs prove to be 4-2, you find spades 3-3 and can execute a squeeze.