Bridge: June 24, 2019

If at first you don’t succeed, maybe you need to redefine success. If you’re declarer at 6NT, success means winning 12 tricks, and there’s no redefining it.

In today’s deal, South won the first club with his jack and next led a diamond for a finesse with dummy’s jack, losing to East’s queen. South won the club return and still had a chance for his contract: He needed both red suits to break 3-3. The hearts obliged, but the diamonds were intractable. South took 11 tricks.

How would you play the slam?

10 WINNERS

South starts with 10 winners — two spades, three hearts, two diamonds, three clubs — and needs two more. He gets an extra chance by testing the hearts first. If that suit broke 4-2, South would finesse in diamonds next, hoping West held Q-x-x.

But when hearts break 3-3, South needs only three diamond tricks. Hence he can take the A-K before leading toward the jack as a partial safety play. He guards against Q-x with East.

This week: more than one chance.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 7 4 H K 8 4 D A J 3 2 C K Q 4. You open 1NT, your partner responds two clubs, you bid two diamonds and he bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: At one time, partner’s bidding was treated as a sign-off; he showed long clubs but little strength and no game interest. But partnerships can assign a different meaning. Some might use the sequence to show an invitational hand such as 6 5, 7 3, K 6 5, A 10 8 6 3 2. Discuss with your partner.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S A 7 4

H K 8 4

D A J 3 2

C K Q 4

WEST

S J 9 5

H J 9 6

D 10 9 6 5

C 10 9 8

EAST

S Q 10 8 3

H 10 7 3

D Q 8

C 7 6 3 2

SOUTH

S K 6 2

H A Q 5 2

D K 7 4

C A J 5

South West North East

1 NT Pass 6 NT All Pass

Opening lead — C 10

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