26th August 2015

Dealer West
S
A10
   
E/W Vul
H
J876432
   
    D A75
   
    C K
   
S
76
    S
J43
H
K1095
    H
-
D
J86
    D
10943
C
QJ42
    C
1097643
    S
KQ9852
   
    H
AQ
   
    D
KQ2
   
    C
A5
   


This deal is from the last round match of the MCBA Swiss Teams at Altrincham on Sunday 19th July.

Our team mates Sally Brock and Susanna Gross bid to six hearts on the North-South hands.  This is a good contract, needing only trumps not to break four-nil, therefore about 90%.  Our opponents James Sheppard and Michael Wymer bid up to six spades, also a good contract, needing trumps three-two or singleton jack or, if there were a trump loser, the heart finesse as well.  This works out as about 85%.  At this point my partner, John Currie, doubled for a heart lead, hoping that we had a trick elsewhere after the heart ruff.  Six spades was making, but James sensibly removed to six notrump.  This contract is even better, you can play on hearts first, and if they don't behave, then you need the spades to come in for sufficient tricks.  This has a probability of success of around 98%.

There are two morals from this deal.  If you appear to have plenty of tricks play in six notrump rather than six of a suit, you may be able to survive your main suit not behaving in six notrump.  The other moral is - choose the slam that is making!