Today’s deal involved North-South experts Michael and Debbie Rosenberg. They lived in New York for many years and moved to California a few years ago.
East’s aggressive five-heart bid, on unfavorable vulnerability, created a lot of pressure. Debbie, South, passed it to Michael, North, hoping he would know what to do. Michael opted to force a slam and made a good choice when he bid five no trump. This prompted Debbie to choose the best slam. On the way to six spades, Debbie showed her four-card side suit and Michael let it play right there. It was a great choice, because an opening heart lead against six spades, forcing dummy to ruff, could create a trump trick for East. The best slam was reached, but it still had to be made.
Debbie ruffed the initial heart lead into dummy and cashed the ace and king of clubs. She left the last trump outstanding and led a diamond and then another diamond to her ace. This made the move because West had no option to win. If West played low and allowed East to ruff, East would have been endplayed and forced to lead spades or give up a ruff-sluff. West chose to raise with his king, but that was also endplayed. West led hearts, but Debbie ruffed into dummy and then ruffed a diamond into the hand. She drew the last trump, dropped the spades from dummy, and claimed the balance. Dummy was high! Well done!
