Bridge Deal of the Week (Mar 09 2007)

Problem:

The Auction:
West   North   East   South
                       pass    pass
pass     1♦       pass    1♠
pass     3♣      pass    4NT¹
pass     6NT   all pass

1 - Quantitative

After three passes, partner opens the bidding with 1♦ and shows a powerful hand by rebidding 3♣ over your 1♠ response. What would you bid now with the South hand? This is a difficult and tricky bidding decision. Our discussion boards are working again, so we'd encourage you to express your point of view on what you'd have bid. Holding maximum values for a passed hand, it is reasonable to make a move towards slam by bidding a quantitative 4NT. Partner accepts the invitation and bids 6NT, which becomes the final contract.

West considers his opening lead, and comes up with the ♦10. This diabolical lead disrupts communications between your hand and dummy. On a spade or heart lead, you would have unblocked the major suit winners from dummy, crossed over to ♦K to cash the major suit aces, and then cross back to dummy with the ♣A to cash the diamonds. The diamond lead removes your only entry to hand. Why couldn't West lead a heart, the unbid suit? Any idea on how to take 12 tricks?

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Bridge Baron deal No: N1393-93919-53095-14240-98846-73170

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Deal Of The Week