FOUR SLAMS
The probability that either side can bid a slam on any given hand, according to my research on the net, is 0,7% if we assume we need 33 hcp. The chances for us then having 4 slams in a row is for others to calculate, but high it ain’t!
In the match between Inverted Minors and Nelly it did happen though as the first 4 hands were slams! Slam three was a very difficult hand to declare and is all about timing and combining chances.
Board: 3
Dealer: South
Vul: E/W
Teams
North
♠ AK95
♥ 42
♦ A43
♣ KQ43
West East
♠ 42 ♠ J63
♥ 103 ♥ A976
♦ K10872 ♦ Q6
♣ J1096 ♣ 8752
South
♠ Q1087
♥ KQJ85
♦ J95
♣ A
West North East South
1♥
Pass 1♠ pass 3♠
Pass 4NT pass 5♣
Pass 5♦ pass 5♠
Pass 6♠
4NT was RKCB and 5♣ showed one of 5 aces. 5♦ Asked if South had the King and 5♠ confirmed its presence.
At the other table it stopped in 5♠ and East lead a club won in dummy and Declarer pulled 3 rounds of trump and West discard the ♥ 10 on the last trump. A heart from North and East jumped up with the Ace and it was all over.
Joy got the menacing lead of ♦ 6 won in hand. She cashed the ♠ Ace and played a club to the Ace. Now the ♠ Queen was cashed and a spade played to North, on which West discard a ♦ and the slam could no longer be made.
Joy did her best with a ♥ to dummy - ducked by East, a second high ♥ won with the Ace in East. East came off lead with the ♦ Queen which had to be ruffed with Dummies last ♠. When the ♥ Jack was cashed, and the suit didn’t split 3-3 Joy ended up losing a club at the end.
Lets Go bck to the situation after trick 3:
North
♠ K95
♥ 42
♦ 43
♣ KQ4
West East
♠ 4. ♠ J6
♥ 103 ♥ A976
♦ K1082 ♦ Q
♣ J109 ♣ 875
South
♠ Q108
♥ KQJ85
♦ J9
♣ -
As pointed out by Irving Blakey you now have to play a small ♠ from South to the King in North. Two top clubs are cashed discarding Dummies diamonds. Alt this point you play a ♥ towards Dummy, and East does best by ducking. North persists with another high Heart from Dummy. As soon as the second ♥ stands up you play a third. If either opponent ruff the third ♥ Declarer will get the rest on a cross ruff. As West did not have the last trump, North can win on a cross ruff or discarding allowing East to win just to establish the last Heart in dummy for her 12th trick.
A hand to study and relish.
Espen Gisvold
PS
If you see a hand you think is worth mentioning please leave me a note at: Espen
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