With Bob Jones
Neither vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
S-K 8
H-A K J 5 2
D-Q 5 3
C-Q 10 4
WEST EAST
S-J 9 7 5 S-Q 10 6 4
H-10 9 6 3 H-8 7 4
D-8 7 D-10 6 2
C-8 7 2 C-A 6 3
SOUTH
S-A 3 2
H-Q
D-A K J 9 4
C-K J 9 5
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1D Pass 1H Pass
3C Pass 4D Pass
4NT Pass 5H- Pass
7D Pass Pass Pass
-OOPS!
Opening lead: Eight of D
Oops is right! North-South have had a horrible Blackwood accident and arrived at a grand slam off a cashing ace. This hand really happened. It is from an experts-only team game for high stakes. The experts will not be named.
A trump lead is common against a grand slam as it usually gives nothing away. Leading an ace is even better, though you rarely have one, so the trump lead marks East with the ace of clubs.
South considered ruffing a spade in dummy, but he would not be able to do this, draw the trumps, unblock the queen of hearts, and still get back to dummy to run the hearts. Was there anything else?
Declarer cashed the queen of hearts and drew the outstanding trumps, ending in dummy. He began cashing dummy’s hearts, and when that suit split 4-3, he was almost home. South discarded all four of his clubs on dummy’s hearts. He then led the queen of clubs off the table for a ruffing finesse against the ace of clubs. When East had that card, as expected, South had his grand slam. Five tricks in each red suit, two spades and one club for 13 tricks!
North started to explain his Blackwood accident to East-West, but for some reason they had already left the table.
(Bob Jones welcome readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail responses may be sent to
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