IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

Bridge players love to bid slams but some lack the tools that allow them to get to the optimum contract. Here is a well bid grand slam.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

#11-44
Dlr	W
Vul	None

	AKQJ6
	J8
	AQJ87
	3

	874
	K65
	103
	J9762

	953
	Q97432
	6
	1084

	102
	A10
	K9542
	AKQ5

West	North	East	South
Pass	1	Pass	2*
Pass	3	Pass	3
Pass	4NT	Pass	5
Pass	5NT	Pass	6
Pass	7NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

*Game forcing

BIDDING: North was surprised and delighted when his partner made a game-forcing diamond bid. North was immediately thinking slam, perhaps even a grand slam. Concerned about two losing hearts, North simply raised diamonds. South cooperated by cue bidding hearts and North jumped to 4NT to ask about keycards (4 aces + king of diamonds). South admitted to three keycards and North continued with 5NT to ask about kings. South showed the king of clubs and North could not contain himself and leaped to the grand slam in notrump.

PLAY: West led a spade and declarer quickly claimed thirteen tricks. Most pairs stopped in a small slam so this N/S pair earned a good result for their solid bidding. Their 2/1 bidding system allowed them to make forcing bids without having to jump and lose valuable bidding space.

Copyright ©2011 Larry Matheny