Bridge: March 10, 2024

You can rearrange the letters in “twelve plus one” to get “eleven plus two,” but no matter how you look at it, you need 13 tricks to make today’s contract.

North’s bid of 2NT was a conventional forcing heart raise; South’s three spades showed a singleton spade. When North cue-bid four clubs next, South took control with Blackwood and risked a grand slam when North showed two aces. If South had continued with 5NT to ask for kings and found North with none, he might have stopped at six hearts. Still, North could have held Q9,10973,AQ74,AQ7, and chances for 13 tricks would have been excellent.

West led the jack of spades, and declarer won, took the ace of trumps, shrugged and led a club to finesse with dummy’s king. Down one.

“Don’t bid seven unless you can count 13 tricks,” was North’s comment.

Could you make seven hearts?

If you aren’t eager to rely on the club finesse, take the ace of spades, six rounds of trumps, and then the king, queen and ace of diamonds. Dummy has the singleton ace of clubs and Q-9 of spades. West has room for three cards. If he saves two clubs and the bare ten of spades, you lead the queen of spades: king, ruff, ten — and dummy’s nine is high.

If instead West saves two spades and one club, East must bare a black-suit king. If the king of spades, you ruff a spade, and dummy’s queen is high; if the king of clubs, you cash the ace, and your ten wins the 13th trick.

A club opening lead would beat the grand slam.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S Q 9 4

H 10 9 7 3

D A Q 8

C A Q 7

WEST

S J 10 8 6 2

H 5

D 7 4 2

C J 9 6 3

EAST

S K 7 5 3

H J

D J 9 6 5

C K 8 5 4

SOUTH

S A

H A K Q 8 6 4 2

D K 10 3

C 10 2

South West North Easst
1 H Pass 2 NT Pass
3 S Pass 4 C Pass
4 NT Pass 5 H Pass
7 H All Pass
Opening lead — S J

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