A
SLAM EITHER WAY
It
is said that one hand in fifteen has potential for a small slam, but
how
often does a hand lend itself to the chance of a slam either
way? This example shows how a team of four players of international standard
explored a rare opportunity.
|
|
Dealer
South |
ª |
10
4 2
|
|
|
|
|
East
West Vulnerable |
© |
Q
10 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
¨ |
9
4 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
§ |
A
Q 8 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N |
|
|
|
ª |
3
|
|
|
ª |
A
Q 8 7 5 |
|
© |
|
|
W
E |
© |
9
6 |
|
¨ |
Q
J 8 7 5 |
|
|
¨ |
A
K 10 6 2 |
|
§ |
K
J 10 9 7 4 2 |
|
|
§ |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
ª |
K
J 8 5 4 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
© |
A
K J 8 5 4 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
¨ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
§ |
5
3 |
|
|
|
|
Table
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
W |
N |
E |
S |
|
|
|
|
4© |
|
NO |
NO |
4ª |
Dbl |
|
5§ |
Dbl |
5¨ |
NO |
|
NO |
5© |
DBL |
NO |
|
6¨ |
NO |
NO |
6© |
|
NO |
NO |
Dbl |
NO |
|
NO |
NO |
|
|
Table
1
|
W |
N |
E |
S |
|
|
|
|
1© |
|
NO |
2© |
Dbl |
4© |
|
5§ |
Dbl |
5¨ |
NO |
|
NO |
5© |
DBL |
NO |
|
6¨ |
NO |
NO |
Dbl |
|
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ah, the difference a bid decision can
make. One South doubled Six Diamonds, the other bid Six Hearts.
At Table 1, West failed to lead a club and defence lost a
ruffing opportunity. South guessed that East had a two-suiter and at least two
trumps, so the only loser in reality was ªA.
At Table 2, there were several ways to play the hand. It
is
possible to set up two club winners, plus
ªA,
and use all ten trumps.