How Many Aces do You Need for Slam?


S Q J x x
H -
D K Q x x x x
C K Q x
S x
H x x x x x
D A x x x x
C A x
[W - E] S 10 x
H A Q x x x
D J x
C J x x x
S A K x x x x
H K J x
D -
C T x x x

West

4 D
Dbl
North

4 H
All pass
East
2 H
Pass
South
2 S
6 S

After some wild bidding, I became declarer in 6S with only one ace. A hopeless contract you might think...

West started CA and continued, after some long pause, with a small club. I started on a cross-ruff line by trumping diamonds in my hand and hearts in dummy. After a few rounds east erred by ruffing, which I over ruffed. Now I was able to ruff diamonds 5 times and cross in spades (to pull all trumps) to obtain my 12th trick with the last diamond.