♦K 4

♣K J 6 4

WEST EAST

♠K Q 6 ♠8 5

♥K J 10 5 4 3 ♥6

♦10 9 8 2 ♦Q J 7 6 5 3

♣Void ♣10 9 7 3

SOUTH

♠A J 9 7 4 2

♥9

♦A

♣A Q 8 5 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass

3♣ Pass 4♣ Pass

4♦ Pass 6♣ Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of ♦

It is surprising what havoc a bad trump break wreaks, even on the best of declarers. Sitting South on this deal from a major European tournament was a many-time world champion.

South's high reverse of three clubs was game-forcing, so North's simple raise was stronger than a jump to five clubs — the Principle of Fast Arrival. The four-diamond cue-bid by South was all North needed to bid the slam.

The diamond opening lead was won in the closed hand perforce, and South carelessly laid down the ace of clubs. The 4-0 trump break irretrievably doomed the slam. Declarer had to concede a spade trick, but then could no longer ruff a spade high on the table without conceding a trump trick as well.

Correct was to lead a trump to dummy's jack and, having discovered the bad break, continue with a low club. East is forced to split the ten-nine of clubs. Declarer wins with queen, cashes the ace of spades and concedes a spade. Declarer can now ruff a spade high in dummy, lead a club to take the marked finesse for the ten and claim the rest of the tricks. Six clubs bid and made. (11/03/09)

e-mail: gorenbridge@aol.com