CONTRACT BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 189, 12 August 1938, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE.

GRAND SLAM. (By THE FOUR ACES.) While tlie Citv Athletic Club of New York is primarily a social club, it is also a stronghold of bridge and includes many fine players. Visiting there the other day, we were quite impressed as we watched Lester Bachner and Judge Aaroir Steuer successfully contract for a grand elam. South dealer. Judge Steuer.

Mr. Baehner'a opening two-Diamond bid was quite sound, as he wished to play the hand at game regardless of partner's holding. Judge Steuer naturally responded in his powerful Spade suit. After Mr. Bacliner's three-Club "bid, Judge Steuer decided his Spade suit was worth one rebid, but when his partner again denied support by bidding four Clubs, he jumped to six of that suit, and Mr. Bachner promptly bid the grand slam.

A certain amount of care had to be exercised in the play of the baud, as the cards were distributed badly. After winning the opening Heart lead, Mr. Bachner thought of playing his Queen of Spades, then three rounds of trumps. If the trumps were divided 3-2 he could then discard all his losing Diamonds. After a little thought, however, Mr. Bachner abandoned this line of attack as being too dangerous. He played his Ace of Diamonds and trumped a Diamond with dummy's nine of Clubs. HeV. then trumped a Heart in his hand, and, after trumping another Diamond with dummy's Queen of Clubs, simply drew four rounds of trumps. H*j was then able to overtake his Queen of Spades with dummy's Ace and discard his remaining two small Diamonds on the two top Spades.

Mr. Bachner had found a completely safe way to fulfil his contract. But we know of many players who would immediately have drawn trumps ani lost the hand.—(Copyright.)