Bridge News:

Here is a hand from the May 19 game of the Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club that offers E/W a choice of game contracts plus one possible, though unlikely, slam contract.

It’s a dangerous pair of E/W hands, as it is very easy to end up in an unmakeable slam.

This is board #7. South is the dealer and both sides are vulnerable.

South is the dealer and passes. West opens the bidding with 1♠. After North passes, East will probably bid 2♥, showing a 5+ card suit and a game forcing hand (playing 2/1). West’s likely rebid is 2♠, showing at least a 6-card suit. East’s rebid of 3♣ makes a slam notrump contract inviting to West, as the partnership has at least 33 points, counting distribution. I think many players would bid 6NT at this point, while newer or inexperienced players might well settle for 3NT. Few, if any will try for a club slam.

Looking at all four hands, 4♠ by West will make either 4 or 5; NT or hearts will make 5 with good defense, while 6♣ is cold. Should declarer, in playing hearts, play the Ace and then lead toward the QJ, the defenders must refuse to take the King immediately, otherwise declarer will take 12 tricks!

When this hand was played locally, one pair played in 6NT/E down 2, a 2nd pair played in 6♠/W down 2, a 3rd pair played in 4♠/W down 1, a 4th pair played in 5♣/E making 5, and a 5th pair played in 3N/W making 4.

The Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club games are held starting at 12:45 p.m. Wednesdays at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center (BESAC) and 12:45 p.m. Mondays at the White Rock Senior Activity Center (WRSAC). Check out the Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club’s new website at www.ladbc.net to learn what it’s all about, contact the club to get involved, join the fun and much more.