Weekly Hand Analysis - Vic Johnson - July 25, 2022 - A missed slam?

 

Question: 

Here is another hand that was played in a suit but probably could have been played in NT. Also bidding stopped at game instead of progressing to an invitation to slam. Was this a case of a good fit or a missed opportunity? The hand made 6 S.

Vic:

Actually, this was a case of a good fit AND a missed opportunity (not to mention lots of points, including all four Aces & Kings). South bears the responsibility for the missed opportunity. 

North made a jump rebid in spades, promising at least a 6-card suit & a big hand (17+ pts). Over 3S & holding the South hand, my next call would be 4NT (Blackwood). North would show two aces, making it clear to South that the only critical card they are/might be missing is the spade Queen. That knowledge would make bidding a small slam pretty much a no brainer.

 Yes, both 6S & 6NT are reasonable choices. Both bids, however, face the same problem & both are very likely to go down one.

 To take 12 tricks declarer has to drop either the spade Queen or the club Queen. The spade Queen is offside & it is difficult to imagine EW not taking a trick with that card. The club Queen is off side for the way I would expect most people to play the club suit. 

That is, win the club Ace to see if the Queen drops singleton, then lead the club Jack planning to cover the Queen if East should play it OR finesse the Jack if East does not play the Queen.  Oops! Down one. Who said bridge was fair?

 Declarer in the example given was very fortunate to make 6S. My guess is East led their singleton club, finessing their partner & gifting Declarer the additional trick they needed. 

Leading singletons is a very controversial strategy that can often be a very bad choice. That is especially true leading against a slam contract. Ain’t bridge a great game?