Lucky Slam

pairs competition
September 2, 2003

	K 10 x x x Q A J x K Q J 10
Lead: K	A Q 9 x K 10 x x x x x A x

I opened as south 1, which was followed by 1 by west. Before I knew it my partner had put me in 6. It looked easy with 1 diamond 5 spades, 4 clubs, 1 heart and a diamond ruff. However, after I won the diamond ace and played a spade to the A west threw a diamond. This complicated matters.

Well, nothing to do but run clubs. Luck was with me as east had 4 clubs with his 4 spades. I could give up a heart now to west who tried to cash his Q. East had signalled two diamonds and three hearts so I finished with a crossruff (Q ruffed, heart ruff, spade finesse, heart ruff, claim).

Closer analysis shows that the play was not optimal. The play fails when east has two hearts and three diamonds. It is better to ruff the Q, ruff a heart, and then play the J. If east follows (or throws a heart) you can throw a heart, take the spade finesse, and finish with a high crossruff. If east ruffs the J you over ruff and can now ruff a heart with a low spade in complete safety.