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(read on to find out why this man appears at the head of this article).

A Two-Pronged Attack.

There’s something about an auction that starts with a game-force bid and a positive response. It has a momentum which one starting at the 1-level does not. Take a look at the North-South hands below:

 

South’s 20 hcp is not a true game-forcing hand though it does conform to our “rule of 29” for 2 openings. Also, you would hate for 1 to be passed out.

After North’s 2 positive, South “drove” the partnership to slam, 5 showing 1 or 4 key cards. Had the first 2 bids been 1  1NT, chances are that either the partnership stayed in game or else found the less attractive club slam. However, we are assuming that 6 will make. Indeed, it could well have no play. Hopefully, that is not the case today as you are declarer in 6 on the lead of J. What’s your plan? What card do you play after drawing trumps?

There are various named coups, squeezes etc  which I would love to perform at the table, knowingly (well, even unknowingly would be acceptable…I would of course pretend to know exactly what I am doing!) and this deal  fulfils one of them.

It looks like we have to lose a heart and a club unless we can set up the heart suit which would need to break 3-3 as we only have one outside entry (A) to dummy.

So, start off with K? You can but there is another chance which might be worth trying.

Well, at trick 5 (you may as well draw trumps first), why not try your small heart, (4)? There is nothing lost in doing so and there might just be a mighty big gain!

 

What is West going to do? Duck it or take it, it is all over. If West plays low, Q scores and K disappears on the K. Declarer would have the luxury of playing the clubs for one loser which they will do as long as they start with a high honour.

If West takes their ace and exits a diamond, South will have 2 discards, on the Q and K for two small clubs…slam made!

Slam made courtesy of John Morton although he did not know of his lasting fame. He was a 15^th century Chancellor appointed by Henry VII, entrusted to raise money for his monarch. He demanded gifts from the wealthy “for they must be rich” and from those who lived frugally “as they must have savings”. Caught either way as was West in today’s deal.

Watch out for “Morton’s Fork” opportunities and you will end up wealthy or at least successful in an otherwise difficult contract.

Richard Solomon

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