Puzzle 7E79 (Jul 80) by Richard Pavlicek

Major Fantasy

6 by South

	K Q J 10 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 A K —
	7 6 5 4 3 2 A K Q J 10 9 — A

North is quick to criticize, “Why didn’t you open one spade? With two six-card suits, bidding the higher suit is routine; then we’d get to six spades.”

“You’re just playing results,” argued South. “Surely, suit quality counts for something, and opening one heart stands out a mile.”

“Down one stands out a mile too,” countered North.

“If it would make you feel any better,” quipped South, “Six spades would be down as well.”

What are the exact East-West hands?

Solution

Only one layout allows both slams to be defeated:

6 by South (or 6 )

	K Q J 10 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 A K —
8 — — K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2		A 8 Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 —
	7 6 5 4 3 2 A K Q J 10 9 — A

Against either slam, West leads a club for East to ruff (or overruff dummy); then in spades, West scores the  8 on any return.

“Oh well,” South lamented. “It was a good save, as West was cold for his 6  bid.”

“Why save?” nagged North. “With a club stopper, all you had to do was bid six notrump and we’d be plus a bundle.”

“Good point,” agreed South. “And if I could tie you up with a stopper in your mouth, I’d have an even nicer bundle.”