Take Your Only Chance
By Mike Lawrence

WEST'S LEAD

West had a very difficult choice. but finally chose to lead a diamond away from his king.

This was not totally a stab in the dark. West knew that North-South had tricks in clubs which could be used for discards.

When your opponents have shown they have a side suit which can be used for discards, it is often right to lead away from a king or queen hoping to set up a trick in time to use it. This is true even against a slam. While leading aces is often best, here it is a very bad choice since you expect there will be long club suit in dummy. Leading the ace of clubs would just cede timing to declarer. West's choice of a diamond was well thought out and it gave declarer fits.

THE PLAY

After winning the diamond lead and drawing two rounds of trump, South led the queen of hearts from dummy. East was obliged to cover and South won the ace. Next came the ten of hearts. This time it was West's turn to cover in the hope that East had the nine of hearts. But not so. South ruffed and returned to his hand with a trump. The heart nine was good for a diamond discard so South was able to concede a club loser. Making six spades. Even though South's play risked going down an extra trick, it was very reasonable to try for it.

THE ODDS

Making six spades would give South 1430 points. Going down an extra trick would cost South one hundred points. Given that the heart suit would let South make slam one time in four, it was right for South to try to make six spades. In four tries, South will make 1430 once and on the three losing tries, South will lose a total of 300 points. The net is positive so should be attempted.

" I would never have bid the slam without the nine of hearts," wagged South.