BRIDGE NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 13 August 1932, Page 8

BRIDGE NOTES.

A GRAND SLAM. spzciaixt wanras fob the pbess.) [By William Shacxlb.J Generally speaking, big hands are seldom interesting, as they are so often too patent to need any degre of finest or judgment. As in all things, however, there are exceptions, and the following hand, which I have just received by post, can certainly be classified among the interesting ones. Quick thinking and then a definite plan of campaign were both absolutely necessary. Such hands as this go far towards making an evening's bridge so thoroughly enjoyable:—

There was no score in rubber game, while A dealt and bid 3 Hearts as his initial bid. B quite rightly said "No bid," instead of saying either 3 Spades or 3 No Trumps, his reason being that his hand made game certain for A, while if he played it in No Trumps he might not be able to get into Dummy in order to make A's Hearts; being non-suited in Hearts, on the other hand, could scarcely matter, in view of partner's pre-emptive bid of 3. Y was in a difficult position as regards the lead, as he did not like to lead away from either his Ace-Queen of Diamonds or King of, Spades. He therefore leads 9 of trumps, which at least can do no harm. A takes this first round with Jack, and discards 5 of Diamonds from Dummy, it being at once patent to him that he will not require a diamond trick. Continuing trumps, A finds on the* second round that Z is holding 5 to the ten, so that he will be unable to draw these fully by directly leading trumps, except by forfeiting a trick. Thus he decides to establish his Spades, and by leading same from Dummy be in the position of over-trumping Z at any time Z attempts to ruff. No question of finesses, it is quite a straightforward hand in all other respects. The fall of the cards was as follows:

Y should have trumped the fourth round of Spades, though actually this would not have effected the position, A being able to get into Dummy with •. Olub lead.

9 H ti. 5 D 2 H A. . J H 7 D J D 4 H A H 2 D ID 5 H KH 8 S A S 2 S 5 S 10 S 3 S 7 S 3 H 6 C K C 5 C Q C K R 4 S Q S 6 H r c A C 8 C J 0 6 D J s .3 D 4 D 9 C 9 S 8 D 2 C 0 i> 6 S 10 T> 10 c Q D 3 C 7 H 8 H A D 4 C 10 H QH