17th Oct 2018

Dealer West
S
AKJ107
   
Both Vul
H
A87654
   
    D 75
   
    C
   
S
Q854
    S
6
H

    H
32
D
AJ10832
    D
KQ964
C
Q97
    C
A10864
    S
932
   
    H
KQJ109
   
    D

   
    C
KJ532
   


South
West
North
East

Pass
1H Pass
4D Pass
5NT
Pass
7H Pass
Pass
Pass


This deal is from the North Wales Swiss Pairs event at Northop in early October.

Raymond Semp as North opened one heart and Henry Bissell responded four diamonds to show four card heart support, game values and a diamond void.  Raymond now bid five notrumps, the grand slam force, hoping that partner had a suitable spade holding and sufficient trumps to ruff all his losers.  Henry, with two top heart honours, bid the grand.  Raymond was doubtless disappointed to see dummy's worst possible spade holding, but luck was with him when the spade finesse was right and they were the only pair to bid and make the grand slam on a combined 22 points.

Five pairs played a small slam and three pairs sacrificed in seven diamonds.  East West's silence in the auction on this deal is rather surprising.

Thanks to Raymond Semp for reporting this deal.