1st April 2020


Dealer East
S
AQ843
   
Game All
H
Q10652
   
    D Q94
   
    C
   
S
J10765
    S
K92
H
J8
    H
A
D
852
    D
KJ7
C
A109
    C
QJ7643
    S

   
    H
K9743
   
    D
A1063
   
    C
K852
   

South
West
North
East



1C
1H 1S 4C Pass
4D Pass 6H Pass
Pass Pass


This deal is from the Tollemache final in February.

After some rather optimistic bidding Tom Slater arrived in a small slam.  West started with the ace of clubs, which helped declarer, but even so the contract was precarious.  Tom ruffed the club lead, ruffed a spade and played the king of clubs pitching a diamond from dummy.  Now another club ruff, the ace of spades throwing a diamond, another spade ruff and another club ruff left the position as:


Dealer East
S
Q8
   
Game All
H
Q10
   
    D Q9
   
    C
   
S
J10
    S

H
J8
    H
A
D
85
    D
KJ7
C

    C
QJ
    S

   
    H
K97
   
    D
A106
   
    C

   

Tom now played the spade queen from dummy, East threw a diamond (ruffing with the ace of hearts leads to the same endplay).  Now the ten of hearts left East on play with the unenviable choice of leading from the diamond king or conceding a ruff and discard.

Nicely played for the only realistic chance to make the slam.


Thanks to Tom Slater for reporting this deal.