| West | North | East | South |
| 1♠ | |||
| 2♠(1) | 3♥(2) | Pass | 4♠ |
| Pass | 5♣ | Pass | 5♥ |
| Pass | 7♠ | All Pass |
1. At least 5-5 in hearts and a minor
2. Good spade raise
This board occurred in a team match where you and partner felt you were in need of a swing. were in need of a swing. Accordingly, North, your partner, punted the grand slam when you showed a first-round heart control by bidding 5♥.
West leads the ♠6. What is your plan to take every trick?
Solution
Declarer took the opening lead with the ♠J and drew the remaining trump with a spade to dummy’s ace. Next he cashed the ♦A, followed by the ♣A and ♣K, throwing the ♥Q and ♥9 from hand. A club ruff confirmed that West had started with 1=5=5=2 shape. So, declarer led the ♦Q. West covered this with the king, which cheered up declarer, because otherwise he would have been in the rather nervous position of having to discard a club or a heart. Declarer ruffed in dummy, ruffed a club back to hand and led a confident ♦9. West covered with the 10 and this was ruffed in dummy. After a second club ruff to get back to hand declarer led the ♦8. West covered this with the jack and, after ruffing this in dummy, declarer claimed his contract: he made five trumps, one heart, two diamonds, three diamond ruffs and two clubs. The full deal:
