Answer to

Hand of the week commencing Sunday 26th February 2006  

 

 

Dealer North

ª

 A J 4 3 2  

 

 

 

Neither Vulnerable

©

  A 4

 

 

 

 

¨

 A7 3 2

 

 

 

 

§

 Q 10

 

 

 

 

 

N

 

 

ª

10 9  8

 

 

ª

Q 7 5

©

K Q J 9 8 3

 

W                          E

©

10 7 6 2            

¨

    

 

 

¨

Q 6 5     

§

   J 8 6 5

 

 

§

9 7 2

 

 

 

S

 

                  

 

 

ª

K 6

 

 

 

 

©

5

 

 

 

 

¨

K J 10 9 8 4

 

 

 

 

§

A K   4   3

 

 

                                   

N

E

S

W

      

      

     1¨

2©

2ª

3©

NO

NO

4¨

NO

4NT

NO

5§(i)

NO

7¨

NO

NO

NO

     

                

                         

      

 

 

(i)                 RKC  Blackwood

(ii)               0 or   3 Key Cards

       

How do you get home in this Grand Slam ?

John Kranhak a 16 Year old bridge player from Ohio found himself in the Grand Slam after a fairly straight forward auction. The only possible holding that could place the contract into jeopardy would be a 3:0 division of the trump suit. If that were the case declarer’s first play of the trump suit would be crucial. Which opponent is likely to hold three trumps, if this is the case. West is known to hold six Hearts for his overcall and therefore East has four. This indicates that East has more “empty spaces” to fill. Therefore, if there were three Diamonds in one hand they were more likely to be with East. Secondly, if East had 4 Hearts and also a Diamond void, perhaps he would not be content to merely raise the 2© overcall to just 3©. Therefore Kranyak won the Heart Ace and called for the Diamond Ace from dummy. When West was not able to follow suit the Grand Slam was duly made with 2 Spades, 1 Heart, 6 Diamonds, 3 Clubs and 1 Club ruffed in dummy (the Short hand).

 

return to homepage