[pclayton]

Here's two slams I've played in the last week. One I went down in that I think I played right and one I made that I think I played wrong:


#1

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You arrive in 6♠ after making a dubious decision to open the South hand. The opponents are silent and West leads a low heart. Plan the play.

#2

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Your pard opens 2♣ and you respond 2♦. LHO (as a passed hand) buts in with 2♥). From then on the opponents are silent: 2♠ - 2N - 4N - 5N - 6N.

LHO tables the ♥Q. Proceed.

[hatchett]

Both hands look pretty complex.

On 1 my first decision is whether to take the ♣ finesse or not. If I don't take it, I only have 3 side suit tricks on top, so even if I guess diamonds I need 8 trump tricks, since I don't really have the entries or trump pips to set up either minor.

Due to the side suit trick crisis I lean towards taking the ♣ finesse at trick two. If the queen holds, I will continue the club J to the to K and ace and play a diamond. If I guess diamonds correctly then I am in fairly good shape, needing only 7 trump tricks in a cross-ruff (only needing to guess which two cards to ruff low in hand). If I misguess diamonds, I can take the ruffing diamond finesse hoping LHO has the remaining diamond honor and the diamonds break 4-3, or if they don't return a trump attempt to scoe 8 trump tricks.

[hatchett]

On the second hand I will win the heart Ace in dummy, and play club AQ. If the queen is ducked. Then I hope that spades play for 5 tricks and I will have to judge whether clubs are 3-3 or RHO has both minor suit guards. If the queen is won I am in better shape, win the heart continuation test clubs and if they play for 4 tricks I make if spades run or various squeeze chances come in.

If when I play club AQ the Q is ducked but the ten drops I have extra chances. I cash two spades. I have 5 spade tricks I am home, crossing on a diamond to hand to set up clubs. If nothing exciting happens on the two top spades, I again have to decide whether clubs are 3-3 or rho has both minors suits guarded.