After a straightforward auction, E leads a fourth highest ♠ 5, followed by ♠ 4 and ♠ Q from W. Declarer ducks and plays the ♠ 3.

W correctly continues with the ♠ K. What should N do now?

Answer: Duck again!

Look what happens if Declarer wrongly rises with the ♠ A on the second trick or, even worse, on the first trick.

North has seven top tricks (5 in ♣ s, one ♦ and one ♠ ). To try to make his contract he must force out the ♥ A, to garner three ♥ tricks). However, when E wins the ♥ A, he  cashes three ♠ tricks and Declarer is soon one off.

However, if N ducks the second ♠ , all is well. E is forced to lead another suit and it matters not which suits he picks. Declarer is home and dry. Try it...

So if you are forced to duck while playing a No-Trump contract because you only have one 'stopper' it is usually worth ducking twice in order to sever communications between your opponents.

QUACK, QUACK!!

East is hardly spoilt for choice when it comes to the opening lead and will opt (probably) for the ♥5.

North should now count his 'top' or winning tricks - ♠A, ♥ AKQ, ♣ AK – six in total.

Where will the extra tricks come from?

Well, he is guaranteed to make one out of the ♠J or ♠Q. But the eight card diamond suit is the one declarer must concentrate on immediately after getting the lead. With ♦QJ1097654, all Declarer has to do is knock out the ♦A and ♦K held by the opposition and nine or even 10 tricks are there for the making. With good stoppers in every other suit, there is no danger of the defenders winning the battle to make good their longest suit.

So win the heart lead with the ♥Q, and play the ♦10. West will win with the ♦A but Declarer can win whatever suit he returns and then force out the ♦K.

The hard work is done. Now declarer can even start to think about making an overtrick...with spades.

Lead and run the ♠J, which loses to the ♠K. When you get the lead play the ♠4 and play the ♠9 from dummy (If East inserts the ♠10 win with the ♠Q and your ♠9 has been promoted into a winner.)

Well done to Joan and Keith who were alone in making 10 tricks.

West has a dreaded 4441 hand and with 14pts should open 1♦ (the higher ranking of the two four card minor suits) and East duly bids 1♠. Most Wests are now going to tell a slight 'porkie' and re-bid 1NT despite being a point short. Whereupon most Easts, with six spades, are going to re-bid 4♠ , believing – quite understandably - the partnership has an eight card fit.

Fi and Jilly managed to avoid what turns out to be an elephant trap and negotiated their way into 3NT which rolls home without too much fuss (five ♠ tricks, two ♥ tricks, 3♣ tricks – the finesse is onside – and even a ♦ trick).

The four partnerships who ended up in 4♠ went off despite the contract looking makeable...at first glance.

How many losing tricks does Declarer (East) have? One spade (provided Declarer plays a small card towards the Jack in dummy - or 'runs' the Jack if leading from dummy), one heart, possibly three diamonds (in practice two because the ♦A is on-side) and possibly one club.

The key is to play on the hearts as soon as possible and then dump two losing diamonds from Declarer's hand on the promoted hearts in dummy. Contract made - if the defence allow you the chance.

Smart defence will see South lead the ♦A (with the intention of hopefully ruffing a diamond from partner later on) followed by the ♦6.  Declarer wins with the ♦K but it doesn't matter whether he decides to tackle trumps or set up his hearts - as trouble looms. If Declarer 'runs' the ♠J South wins with the ♠Q and then switches to a ♥. North wins and cashes the ♦Q before playing a fourth diamond. If Declarer ruffs high (with the ♠10, for example) South's ♠9 is promoted into a winner. If, after winning the ♦K, Declarer opts instead to set up the hearts, North wins and plays two diamonds. Same result..

Two down. Ouch!

After West opens 1♦ partner responds 1♠ and Opener re-bids 2♣ - to show their 5-4 shape – before Responder bids 2♥. This is Fourth Suit Forcing, a convention which says to partner: 'We have the necessary points for game – tell me more about your hand.' (It does not promise anything in the suit bid – in this case hearts).

With good cover in the 'fourth suit,' West is happy to bid 2NT and East goes 3NT.

With a likely heart lead from North, West can count seven 'top' tricks and with nine diamonds should be looking to that suit for the 'extras.'

So, win the heart lead and prepare to 'run' the ♦ 10. If it is covered by North's ♦J, play the ♦Q, cash the ♦A. 'Unblock' the clubs by playing the ♣A...then play another diamond. North wins the diamonds but West wins whatever is returned and cashes two more diamonds.

With North likely to protect their ♥Q and South protecting spades, clubs are likely to be discarded in both hands – presenting Declarer with an all important overtrick.

BEGINNERS/IMPROVERS: After South opens 1♥, North knows the partnership has a fit and sufficient points for game. Ideally a pair needs 30-32 points to be in the 'slam zone' and trigger investigating the possibility of bidding six of a suit. North has 'only' 14 points (so the partnership may have as few as 26 points), but his hand is much stronger than that – for two reasons. The singleton spade means South may be able to trump losing spades in dummy AND the wonderful diamond side suit is another way South may be able to get rid of losers. So North should bid 4NT (Blackwood) over the 1♥ opening bid, asking partner how many aces he has. When South replies 5♠, promising three aces, North can confidently bid 6♥.

ADVANCED PLAYERS: After South opens 1♥, North should realise (with a trump fit and only five losing tricks) a slam is likely to be on. Some players will bid 4NT and if you play Roman Key Card Blackwood (a must!) partner will respond 5♣ (promising zero or three of the FIVE – four Aces and the King of trumps – key cards). North should assume it is zero and bid 5♥ and South (who realises partner has assumed zero key cards) raises it to 6♥.

If a partnership has Splinters (an invaluable Slam bidding tool) in their bidding armoury, the auction will be different. After the opening 1♥, North has the ideal hand for a Splinter bid (promising 4+card support for Partner's suit, game+ values and a singleton or void in the Splinter suit), so bids 3♠ (the unnecessary jump in the suit sginifies it is a Splinter bid). South has the perfect holding in spades to take advantage so bids 4NT. North responds 5♥ , promising two key cards – the ♦A and ♥K. With all five key cards, South can happily bid 6♥ - and should make all 13 tricks.

North opens 1♥ and most Easts are going to pitch in with 2♣, given the favourable vulnerability.

With four card support for partner's opening bid, South is going to support the hearts – but to what level?

Points alone take you to 2♥ but the singleton club increases the power of your hand – to 3♥ or 4♥?

There are no such problems if you have learnt the invaluable Losing Trick Count. South adds his seven losers to Opener's assumed seven losers and, hey-presto, subtracts the total from 18 to bid 4♥.

A couple of Wests were tempted to sacrifice with 5 or 6 (ouch!) ♣. With a flat hand and only 10 clubs, five losers are unavoidable against best defence – expensive when doubled (Two off doubled – -300 - would be a good result).

The excellent number of Norths who finished in 4♥ had little to fear with just two losers – a ♣ and a ♠.

WITH an unbalanced hand and 20-22 points, technically South should open 2♦ (if playing Strong Twos) but how about opening 2NT instead? With excellent stoppers in hearts and clubs, it is probably a better bet – particularly for those who play Weak Twos and otherwise would have to open 1♦

Depending on the conventions you play or don't play, the bidding can go a number of different ways. With Transfers, North will bid 3♦ asking partner to bid 3♥. Given the powerful shape of North's hand (and only 7 losing tricks opposite 20-22 points - equivalent to 5 losing tricks), North could then either cue bid clubs (showing first round control in that suit), splinter in spades (showing a singleton or void in spades) or just bid 4NT, asking for Aces. With Roman Key Card Blackwood (four aces + king of trumps) South will replay 5♣ - promising three key cards. With two key cards in his hand (♣A and ♥K), North can bid 6♥

Making the contract should not take much effort for South. The best way, given the strength of hearts in North's hand, is to make dummy good. Play off the ♣A and ♣K before trumping the ♣2 with the ♥2. Play the ♥A, the ♠ A, trump a spade, cash the ♥K and the rest is plain sailing.

West opens 1♥ and East responds 2♦. The fireworks begin when West re-bids 2♠ to show his 5-4 shape. East now has every reason to get excited, knowing that the partnership has an 8 card fit. If you have learnt the Losing Trick Count, it is a 'no-brainer' for East to investigate the possibility of a slam. With just five LTs East (assuming the Opener has 7 LTs) can bid 4NT, asking for Aces. When West replies 5♥ - two Aces if you play ordinary Blackwood; two of the five key cards without the Queen of trumps if you play Roman Key Card Blackwood - East will bid 6♠. If you have not learnt the Losing Trick Count, East should still be thinking in terms of a slam given the 16 point hand and excellent shape – the singleton ♥.

The trickiest lead for Delarer is a diamond. (A club lead gifts East a cheap trick and a trump lead means Declarer does not have to guess where the missing ♠Q is placed).

Win the diamond lead and trump a diamond in dummy, play a small trump to the ♠10 (phew!) and trump another diamond in dummy. Draw the remaining trumps, cash the ♦K and the ♦9 (throwing a club from dummy). Cross over to the ♥ A and try the ♣ finesse. It doesn't work, but that is the only losing trick.

North opens 1♠ (with 5-5 in ♥ and ♠ always open the higher ranking suit – as opposed to opening 1♥ when you have 4-4 in ♥ and ♠). South does not have enough points to go 2♥ so has to bid 1NT. North now shows his second suit by bidding 2♥ and suddenly South's hand comes alive. With seven losing tricks, South happily bids 4♥ (If you have not learnt the Losing Trick Count...the void in Spades enables you to bid two levels higher than your points take you).

East leads the ♠A and North has everything required for a classic cross-ruff – good trumps, side suit winners plus a void or shortage in a suit in both hands.

Declarer trumps the ♠A in dummy, cashes the ♦A (throwing the ♣4 from his own hand) cashes the ♣A and ♣K (if you don't cash your side suit winners early on, the opposition may throw away cards in those suits and end up trumping your Ace and King)...then merrily trumps his remaining spades in dummy, and trumps dummy's diamonds in his own hand. The only trick the opposition make is the ♥A! 12 tricks made – with just 19 points.

WEST should realise straightaway a slam should be on, given partner has opened the bidding, but the first priority is to see whether the pair has a fit in a suit. West bids 1♥ and when East replies 1♠ the partnership is in business. Now West can bid 4NT, asking for Aces. If the partnership plays Roman Key Card Blackwood (5 'Key' Cards – the four Aces and the King of Trumps), East will reply 5♥ promising two 'Key' cards, without the Queen of trumps. If the partnership is using ordinary Blackwood, East will reply 5♦ promising one Ace. Either way, West should not need much persuasion to bid 6♠.

When dummy goes down, it is not all plain sailing for Declarer as the Queen of trumps is missing together with the ♦K.

The lazy option is to go for two finesses and hope one of them works. But there is a much better way to proceeed – and it involves the side suit of clubs.

Win whatever South leads (a diamond is best) and cash the Ace and King of trumps. Play the ♥A and ♥K, throwing away the two remaining losing diamonds in Declarer's hand - and then tackle clubs. Play off the ♣A and ♣K, ending up in Declarer's hand. Now trump a club (removing the opposition's last club) and return to Declarer's hand by trumping the ♥9. Now play another club and throw away and ♦J, play another club and throw away the ♦10. It makes no difference if South trumps the club with the outstanding ♠Q. Small slam made.

After West opens 1♠, East goes 2♦. West repeats the spades to show six of the suit and now East (with seven losing tricks and a known spade fit) can bid game.

The likely ♣Q lead needs to be won in dummy so Declarer can attack the trumps with the aim of 'running' the ♠7. In the event, South plays the ♠Q and Declarer cashes the ♠A before playing the ♠10. Norths who mistakenly played their ♠J were quickly made to regret their decision when partner plays the ♠K. If North correctly plays a low spade, Declarer ignores the outstanding ♠J when regaining the lead and concentrates on the diamond side suit with a view to throwing a losing heart on a diamond when the suit is established.

The best the opposition can do is win two spades and a diamond.

Most Norths are (rightly) going to lead the ♦Q, whick wins the trick. Now what?

The key is to look at Dummy (East) and see that with a void created in diamonds Declarer is almost certainly going to take advantage and trump diamonds in dummy. SO LEAD A TRUMP to reduce the number of times Declarer can do it.

Now Declarer is in trouble. He can trump three diamonds in dummy but no longer has any trumps left to trump a losing club. As a result he can only make nine tricks.

If the opposition does not lead a trump (either after winning the first trick or when they win their heart trick), Declarer will make the contract because he has everything required for a cross ruff. He can trump three diamonds in dummy and still has a trump left in dummy to deal with a losing club.

East open 1♠ and South overcalls 2♦. West passes and North (with three cards support in diamonds and 10pts) bids 2♠. Most Easts are going to pass. South (with 15pts) realises there are enough points for game, so bids 3♣ with a view to trying to get the partnership into 3NT. North with stoppers in the two other suit obliges. The two Norths who bid 3NT were rewarded with 10 tricks and a joint top.

West opens 1♥ and East immediately realises the partnership has sufficient points for game – and that is where most contracts ended.

However, by using the Jacoby convention, East can enquire about the possibility of a slam without taking the bidding too high.

If partner opens 1♥ or 1♠ and you have 4+ card support, 12+ pts and a balanced(ish) hand, you bid 2NT (which has to be alerted by the Opener). The 2NT bid is saying nothing about no-trumps; instead it is saying to partner 'I have four or more cards in your suit, suffiicent points for game and a fairly flat hand – are you interested in a slam?'

If the Opener has minimum values, he signes off in four of the agreed suit. However, if opener has extra values (15+ points with a balanced hand, or 6 or less losing tricks with an unbalanced hand) he shows partner a feature in his hand. (3♥ would show 6+ hearts and a interest in a slam; 3NT would show 15+ points and a balanced hand, while bidding a new suit would show the shape of Opener's hand and an interest in a slam).

In Thursday's example, Opener has the required extra values after partner bids 2NT and bids spades. East then bids 4NT (asking for Aces – with hearts having already been agreed as trumps). Using Roman Key Card Blackwood (5 key cards – 4 aces and the King of trumps), Opener replies 5♣ (showing three key cards) and East bids 6♥. The more adventurous may go for 6NT.

Both contracts make...thanks to the ♣K being in the right place for Declarer.

* I hope to arrange a weekend course devoted entirely to slam bidding over the next few months. It is likely to include Jacoby, Splinters, RKCB and Cue bidding.

The real problem hands are when you have 13-14 points (unless the singleton is an Ace or King, in which case you can bid 1NT) because if partner does not bid one of your 4 card suits you have to 'borrow' points to rebid NTs or you end up bidding a second suit and misleading partner who thinks you have a 5-4 shape. I prefer to open with my higher ranking four card minor suit. With 15 points, or more, opening a major suit is preferred...which brings us to board 7.

North, who has 18 points, opens 1♥ and South responds 1♠ . North can now rebid 2NT (promising 17-18 points) and South does not have to think too hard before going 3NT.

If East leads a ♠, declarer should have little trouble winning two spade tricks, three heart tricks, two diamond tricks and three club tricks.

With a balanced 15pts, East opens 1♣ with the intention of re-bidding No-Trumps at the lowest level over partner's bid.

South passes and West should now bid 1♠. Some Wests (wrongly) supported partner's clubs straight away (If you have 4+ card support for partner's opening bid of a minor suit but also have 4+ cards in a major suit, bid the major suit first. You can always support the minor suit later, if necessary).

After West bids 1♠ East re-bids 1NT. Back to West who has 9pts...but have a close look at West's hand. Not only does West have five card support for partner's clubs, thereby guaranteeing a 9+ card fit, it includes a sequence of J10, making it even stronger. So West can upgrade his hand and bid 3NT straight away.

The toughest lead for Declarer is a ♥. Declarer should duck two rounds, winning with the Ace on the third round. Now play the ♣Q with the intention of running it. When that holds you know South has the ♣K. Declarer wins five club tricks, then forces out the ♠A. The opposition can win one more heart, but that is their lot. Game made.

After an opening bid of 1♥ by North, East bid 2♥ promising five spades and five cards in an unidentified minor. South passed and West bid 2NT (asking partner to identify the minor). When East responded clubs, West took the bull by the horns and bid 5♣.

After winning the heart lead with the ♥A, delcarer called for the ♣Q from dummy. East played ♣K and Delcarer won with the ♣A. A cross-ruff followed with spades being trumped in dummy and (after one losing ♦ and one losing ♥) diamonds and hearts in his own hand. Game made.

South should open 1♠ (on the Rule of 20), West passes....and North (with nine hearts, a void and only four points) ponders.

The favourite bid was 4♥ and that ought to go only one off (you lose two clubs, two hearts) which – undoubled – is a great result and even doubled is still better than average.

Two Easts opted to bid their diamonds and, supported by partner, ended up in 5♦ but probably felt a shade peeved because 6♦ makes.(Trump the likely ♠A lead. Cash the ♦A, play another trump which is won by South. Win whatever is returned. Cash the ♥A, trump the two losing hearts in dummy and cash all the club winners).

Board 7 was just one of a number of interesting hands and demonstrated the benefit of having the computer generated – and therefore genuinely random – hands every week.

North opens 1♥ and South responds 1♠ With 16 points and six hearts, North JUMPS in the bidding to 3♥. South now knows the partnerhsip has a minimum of 31 points. If a partnership has 30-32 points they are in the 'Slam Zone' and should investigate the possiblity of bidding a small slam.

With two hearts and therefore a guaranteed 8 card fit, South should bid 4NT (Blackwood) asking partner about Aces. If you play ordinary Blackwood, North will respond 5♥ (promising two Aces). If you play Roman Key Card Blackwood (5 key cards – the 4 Aces and the King of Trumps), North will respond 5♠ - promising two Aces and the Queen of Trumps. Most partnerships should then end up in 6♥ . Providing you play the trumps sensibly (get into dummy and run the ♥10 – covering the ♥J, if it is played, with the ♥Q and playing low if it is not played – the slam makes easily.

South opens 1♥ and West will overcall 1♠. What should North say with six hearts, but only three points? 2♥, 3♥ or 4♥?

If North opts for the rather timid choice of 2♥ , East will definitely bid 2♠ and E-W are likely to get into 4♠ ...leaving North to decide whether to bid 5♥ - which makes.

If North opts for (my preferred choice) of 3♥ in response to partner's opening bid, East (vulnerable) may shy away from competing with 3♠ , leaving N-S to get into a comfortable 4♥ contract – unless West bids 5♦ giving East the choice of passing or putting partner back into 5♠. Both 5♦ and 5♠ only go one off and – even doubled – would be a great sacrifice over 4♥.

More advanced players sitting E-W could make life particularly difficult for N-S.

After the opening bid by S of 1♥ West would use a convention known as Michaels (named after its inventor – called Michael Michaels!). West would bid the opposition suit (2♥) - thereby promising a minimum of five spades and fives cards in an unidentified minor suit.

In all probability, East (given the shape of his hand and knowing the partnership had a good fit in spades) would bid 4♠ over North's 2 or 3♥ bid. If South bid 5♥, West (with six spades) would go on to 5♠ for a good sacrifice.

Jacoby 2NT is one of the key conventions (along with Transfers, Stayman, Splinters and Roman Key Card Blackwood) more advanced players (2+ years playing experience) should have in their armoury. So what is it? If partner opens 1♥ or 1♠ and you have a minimum of four card support for partner's major suit, points for at least game (12+) and a 'flattish' hand, you bid 2NT. It is saying nothing about no-trumps but is a convention (which partner has to alert) showing slam interest. With the opposition passing the bidding in Board 5 would go 1♥ - 2NT – 3NT ('yes' I am also interested in a slam and have a balanced 15+pts) – some players might use Ace showing cue bids before reaching - 6♥.(6NT also makes but only because the opposition hearts split 3-3).

Can you still reach a slam without having Jacoby 2NT? Yes!

After North opens 1♥ South knows the partnership has 30+pts and a slam might be on. If you just bid 4♥ partner may well pass, so what are the options? With 18pts South might bid 4NT straight away(find North has the two missing aces and – if you play RKCB – the Queen of trumps) and bid the slam with confidence. A more subtle approach (particularly if you held slightly fewer - say 16pts) would be to tell a slight white lie and bid 2♣. Partner has to bid and you will find out more about their hand. Whatever happens, South knows the partnerhsip will end up in at least 4♥. In this case the reply would be 2NT (15-16pts and a balanced hand). South can then drive the contract into a slam.

West opens 1♠ with his balanced 15pts (intending to rebid No-Trumps unless partner supports the spades). North passes (the hearts are too weak to overcall) and so does East. So what should South do with a balanced 14pts and good stoppers in Opener's suit?

ANSWER: 'Borrow a King!'

It is normally losing bridge to defend at the One-level unless you think your opponents have not found their correct trump suit. Although a 1NT overcall immediately after an Opening bid shows 15-18pts, a fourth seat 1NT (11-16pts) shows about three points less – hence the phrase 'borrow a King.'

Of course, you and your partner have to agree this as part of your bidding system, otherwise you may have a misunderstanding which results in you playing in 3NT with only 21 or so points. Not nice!

On board 12 the bidding would have gone:

And with careful play (which opponent has most of the points?) the contract will make.

At our table I opened 1♥ with my balanced 15pt hand. Chris bid 1♠ (the spades were not sufficiently good quality to merit a 2♠ 'jump' to show 16+pts). I rebid 1NT and Chris went 4NT (not asking for Aces, but 'quantitive' – asking partner to bid 6NT if their hand is at the upper end of the points range (in this case 15-16) or has extra qualities – or to pass if at the lower end).

Although my points were at the lower end of the range, I took the view that the sequences of ♥QJ, ♦KQ and, most important of all, my ♠109 merited a crack at 6NT.

Peter Routley and Robin Priestley played this board as the final hand of the night and went for the crown jewels by bidding 7NT.

With ten 'top' tricks - ♣AK ♦AKQ ♥AKQJ and ♠A – the other tricks clearly have to come from spades. Missing the ♠K and ♠J, 6NT will make provided both cards are not with East.

After winning the club lead in hand, play the ♠10 with the intention of playing low from dummy. When it is covered by the ♠J, play the ♠Q. Now return to hand and play the ♠9 towards dummy. The other missing honour falls and all 13 tricks come rolling in.

South opens 1♦ - courtesy of the Rule of 20 (if the number of cards in the your two longest suits + your points come to 20 or more you can open).

With 21 points, North knows straight away that a slam of some kind should be on but takes things steadily in order to find the best fit, so bids 1♥. South repeats the diamonds – 2♦.

If the partnership play Roman Key Card Blackwood (4 Aces and the King of Trumps are the 5 key cards) North now bids 4NT to see if partner has the ♦K. When the answer is positive from South – 5♦ - showing one key card, North can now bid 5NT asking for kings. If the answer from South is 6♦ (only one king) North can leave it there. However when South bids 6♥ promsing two kings, in additon to the previously announced king of trumps, North can now count 13 tricks - ♠ AK ♥ AKQ ♦ probably six tricks, given the partnership has a minimum of nine diamonds headed by the AK ♣ AK, Hey presto, a grand slam.

After West opens 1♠, North bids 2 ♣. Most Easts will go 2♠. Over to South, who has the requisite three card support and 10+pts, so bids 3♠. West passes and North does the losing trick count and the necessary mathematics before bidding 4♣ which makes for a handsome score.

Look at South's hand and there are four likely winners ♠A, ♣AK and the ♥K. If you were South, would you rather try to defeat 2♥ or play in 3 or 4♣ ?

The moral of the tale? Be wary of doubling trump contracts without a decent holding in trumps.

An advanced technique would be for East to cue bid ♥s, which acts as 4th suit forcing (saying to West ‘We are going to game partner, but as yet I don’t know where.’)

Without that tool in the kit box, East should bid 3♠ allowing West to bid 3NT...which should make easily enough.

A Splinter bid conveys several bits of information in just one bid:

· 4+ card support for partner's last bid

· A singleton or void in the suit bid

· Game+ strength

· High card points (ie 10+pts)

           After West opens 1♥ East has all the criteria for a Splinter bid and so does a double jump in the suit - ♣s - in which he has the void. This asks partner if he is interested in a slam.

In this case, West definitely is interested and enquires about East’s Aces. Using Roman Key Card Blackwood, East responds 5♠, promising two of the five key cards (four Aces and the King of trumps) and the Queen trumps.

West has no hesitation in bidding 6♥ and the slam is easily made.

● If any players who have completed the Advanced course are interested in learning more about Splinters please let me know

When playing a suit contract I prefer counting my losers, concentrating usually on my (stronger) hand...

In Spades there are two possible losers (Declarer is missing the Ace and Queen); in Hearts there is only one loser (the 2); no losers in Clubs (the Ace and King will take care of the Jack and 2 in Declarer's hand). But what about diamonds?

Played correctly, Declarer can restrict losers to just one - and thereby make 9 tricks.

West is likely to lead a low heart (the suit bid by East). East wins with the Ace and returns a small heart which Declarer trumps. Cross to the ♣A, and run the ♦J (if East plays the King, cover with the Ace and play another diamond). Either way, aim to trump a diamond in dummy (which removes the defence's last two diamonds) draw some trumps and enjoy you diamonds.

After winning the likely heart lead trick in dummy, play a small spade to the Ace and then play the 9♠...when West plays the J♠ dummy's Q♠ forces out the King and life has suddenly become very simple. All the remaining spades are winners, as are all the diamonds. The only other losing trick will be a heart at the end - 11 tricks made. 

West leads the ♥K which is taken by South's ♥A. If Declarer tackles trumps now, West will win the ♠A, cash the ♥Q and, in due course, East will win the ♦A - thereby keeping the opposition to 10 tricks. However, Declarer wisely decides to get rid of one of those losers early on by cashing the ♣A and then playing the ♣K and throwing away his otherwise losing ♥J. Declarer then tackles trumps and hopes to lose just the ♠A and ♦A. 11 tricks?

Not if the defence keep their wits about them... they can still keep the Declarer to 10 tricks. How?

Let's assume Declarer clears trumps in three rounds and then tackles diamonds. East resists the temptation to take the first round with his Ace; instead he 'ducks' with the ♦3. When the ♦10 is played from dummy, East wins it  with either the ♦A (if North plays the ♦Q) or, more likely, the ♦J if North decides to 'run' the ♦10. Either way East can cash a winning diamond because Declarer has no trumps left in dummy. If declarer, preparing for this eventuality, decides to play only two round of trumps earlier on, East wins the second round of diamonds and then plays a trump...and will still gain a diamond winner in due course.

With a balanced hand but too many points to open 1NT, East bids one of his longest suit (1♥) with the intention or re-bidding no-trumps. Partner does not have four card support, but has enough points to bid two of a different suit. With two four-card suits, West opts for the lower ranking suit - 2♣ (with two five-card suits, bid the higher ranking - 'High Fives').

East now bids 2NT (showing 15-16pts and a balanced hand). More advanced players sitting West, with three hearts, will now show delayed support for partner's opening suit in case East has five of them. (Less experienced players sitting West would bid 3NT).

If East had five hearts he would bid 4♥, but with just four, goes 3NT.

With a spade the likely lead from South, 10 tricks should be no problem for East. (Win the lead, knock out the ♥A...the clubs split nicely, and a low diamond to the ♦Q works).

Four of the six pairs who ended up in 3NT made 10 tricks for a score of +430 (and a good percentage) compared to the +420 (and a poor percentage) for those in 4♥

With an unbalanced hand, East opens 1♥  and partner responds 1♠. Opener re-bids 2♣ to show his 5-4 shape. West realises the partnership does not have an eight card fit but with a stopper in the unbid suit (♦) and 10-12 points is able to make the key bid of 2NT. With 15 points, Opener can confidently bid 3NT. Although the hand requires some careful play, the contract is makeable.

East opens 1♠ (using the rule of 20). Partner responds 2♦ and opener rebids 3♣ (thereby showing a minimum of five spades) enabling partner to bid 4♠.

With the opposition having bid spades, diamonds and clubs, South is likely to lead a heart and the defence take the first two tricks. North does best to exit with a trump.

Declarer wins with the ♠K and assesses the situation. Although he has all the top trumps, he is going to lose the ♦A and a club. How can he get rid of a loser?

There is one hope. Play one more round of trumps (♠3 to the ♠Q - leaving the ♠A in dummy), then set up the diamonds. South is forced to play his ♦A on the third round. Declarer wins whatever is returned. Crosses to the ♠A (thereby removing the defence's last trump) and thows his losing clubs on the established diamonds. Game made.

West opens 1♦ and partner responds 1♥. South should stay quiet and West rebids 1♠ (better to show the four card major rather than repeating the diamonds). Now comes the key bid from East - 2♥ - showng 6♥s and 6-9pts. With no chance of game, West has nothing more to say.

Easy really - and a cracking score as a result.

At first glance, a double for penalties may look in order as East envisages winning two spade tricks with the Ace and the King in addition to two or three heart tricks and may be a diamond.

However, closer inspection would suggest passing is a wiser course of action. For starters, there is a very good chance declarer is short of spades (North has bid them and South has clearly got 6+ hearts). More importantly, declarer is probably going to be able do some finnessing of hearts from North through East.

Had West held East's hand, it would have been much harder for declarer to deal with the hearts and doubling makes more sense.

As it is, declarer loses just one spade, no diamonds, one club and....how many hearts?

Well, East has advertised he has hearts by doubling, so declarer wins a trick in dummy (with a diamond or club) and plays the lone heart. If East plays low, declarer lets it run. If East plays the King, Jack or 10, declarer can win the trick - and still only loses two heart tricks. Contract made.

The doubling means declarer has been doubled into game - and a whacking great top!

East opens 1♠ with the intention of rebidding no-trumps at the lowest level over partner's bid. However, when partner bids 2♥ Opener should remember that partner must have 5+ hearts to make such a bid (If partner had bid two of a minor suit - clubs or diamonds - he is promising 4+ cards in the suit).

As a result, opener knows that they have an 8 card fit in hearts. With 15 pts, Opener also knows they have enough points for game and bids 4♥. Back to Responder who can work out Opener must have 15+pts (because he can only assume Responder has 10+ with the 2♥ bid). As Responder has 16pts, he knows the partnership is in the slam zone - 30+pts).

Responder now bids 4NT (asking for aces). When Opener responds 5♦, promising one ace, Responder can confidently bid 6♥ and the contract is never in doubt. 

After South passes, West will bid 1♠ with the intention of re-bidding No-Trumps. Partner has a massive hand, so jumps to 3♥ (showing 16+pts). West duly re-bids 3NT.

East can now work out that partner has 15-16pts. How? Well, if West has 12-14pts and a balanced hand he would have opened 1NT...and he would not have re-bid NTs with an unbalanced hand, preferring instead to rebid his first suit, show a second suit or support partner's hearts.

With 21pts, East realises the partnership has 36-37pts - grand slam territory. Some players might take a small punt and bid the grand slam straight away. The best bid is 5NT, inviting partner to bid the grand slam if he is at the upper end of his (15-16) point range, or bid 6NT if minimum. (It is similar to bidding 4NT after partner has opened 1NT or 2NT - which invites partner to bid 6NT with a maximum hand and pass with a minimum hand).

Although West has 'only' 15pts there are two good reasons for upgrading his hand. First, and most important, he knows partner must have decent hearts so his King will prove invaluable. Second, 10s can often prove useful in NT contracts and East has three of them.

With 14pts, West knows the combined point count is 31 or 32 points and the partnership is in slam territory, but technically a point or two short of that required for 6NT. However, West re-examines his hand: a combination of length (five) in  ♥s, terrific clubs and the knowledge that partner has diamonds covered encourages an enquiry - 4NT.

This is NOT asking for aces. Following a No-Trump bid by partner it is saying go to 6NT is you are at the top of your points range (in this case 17-18) or pass if you are minimum. With 18pts, East duly jumps to 6NT.

With a likely two of spades lead from South, declarer has to take a vital decision and decide if South or North has the Ace. If declarer opts to play the King from dummy, the contract is doomed, as North will win the Ace and return a spade to partner's Queen. Down one. However, if declarer opts to play low from dummy all is well.  With a non-spade lead, declarer should make all 13 tricks.

In the end the slam hinged on guessing correctly - not an ideal recipe...

So what is the winning line of play?

Declarer should win the first or second round of clubs, then duck a heart (play a small heart from both hands). Now see what happens.

You can trump the likely club return from the opponents, cash the Ace and King of trumps, then play the Ace and King of hearts  and trump the fourth heart with dummy's remaining trump.You do not worry when the defence win with their master trump because it cannot take two of your trumps. 4 Spades made.