29th May 2019

Dealer West
S
AJ10
   
Love All
H
9732
   
    D 10432
   
    C 83
   
S
8542
    S
Q973
H
Q65
    H
J1084
D
985
    D
J6
C
J72
    C
Q64
    S
K6
   
    H
AK
   
    D
AKQ7
   
    C
AK1095
   


South
West
North
East

Pass
Pass
Pass
2C Pass
2D Pass
2H (1) Pass
2S(2) Pass
2NT (3)
Pass
3C (4) Pass
3D Pass
4NT(5)
Pass
6C (6)
Pass
6NT
Pass
Pass
Pass



(1) Either hearts or strong and balanced
(2) A relay bid
(3) 25+ balanced (with 23-24 would have rebid 2N over 2D)
(4) Stayman
(5) Quantitative (not Blackwood as no suit has been agreed)
(6) Accepting the invitation and showing a five card suit

This deal is from the Ruia Cup, a teams event held over three Tuesdays in early summer each year at Manchester Bridge Club.
After South had shown a balanced 25+, North made a rather optimistic quantitative raise to four notrump.  South, with his five card suit and non-minimum accepted and North selected six notrump as the final contract.  The final contract is reasonable as it needs the clubs to play for four tricks and the diamonds to break or the spade queen to be with West, plus other small chances. 

A spade was led to the ten, queen and king.  Declarer then tested diamonds and used dummy's two entries to take club finesses to make four club tricks. 

The club suit play is interesting.  If four tricks were needed in clubs, with the eight in dummy, it is correct to play out the top clubs as dropping a singleton honour in the West hand is an additional chance, without the eight two finesses is the percentage play.



Thanks to Raymond Semp for reporting this deal