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“Never doubt, child,” the Queen of Hearts blustered, “that I’m the most powerful card in Wonderland. No ace or king dares take me.”
“Of course, your majesty,” Alice said politely.
“Think not?” the Queen sneered. “Deal and I’ll prove it.”
| Dlr: East | ♠ A | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Vul: E-W | ♥ A K 9 8 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 9 7 6 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ K 9 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♠Q 10 8 7 5 | ♠ K J 9 6 4 3 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ Q | ♥ 10 6 5 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ K J 10 | ♦ Q 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ 8 7 3 2 | ♣ — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ J 7 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A 8 5 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A Q J 10 6 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Opening lead — ♥Q
So Alice dealt as East, and the Mad Hatter became declarer at 6♣. West, the Dormouse, led the queen of hearts, and the Hatter naturally took dummy’s ace.
“Off with his head,” the Queen of Hearts roared. “How dare he let me be captured?”
11 Tricks
The Hatter next led a trump, and when Alice showed out, declarer found to his dismay that the slam was unmakable. If he drew trumps, he would have only 11 tricks. If he tried to set up the hearts first, he would suffer a fatal ruff.
Alice had to admit that South would succeed easily if he let the ♥Q win. Whatever West led next, South would win six trump tricks and four hearts plus the two side aces.
A diamond lead — hard to find — always beats the slam.
Daily Question
You hold:
♠A
♥A K 9 8 3
♦A 7 3
♣K 9 5
You open 1♥, your partner responds 1♠, you bid 2♦ and he bids 2NT. What do you say?
